Latest news and stories about wildfire prevention in Portugal for expats and residents.
A new satellite-based platform called LandOS – A Minha Terra now allows users to check wildfire susceptibility for land parcels across mainland Portugal. Developed by a Dutch company, the tool uses 10-metre resolution imagery and mathematical models to provide fire risk predictions at the parish level for the upcoming summer season.
Tiago Oliveira has resigned as president of the Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management (Agência para a Gestão Integrada de Fogos Rurais or AGIF) citing personal reasons. Paulo Rainha Mateus, currently a board member, will succeed him as head of the agency starting May 16. Oliveira had led the organization since its creation in 2017.
The Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management (Agência para a Gestão Integrada de Fogos Rurais or AGIF) is a public body created in 2018 to coordinate fire prevention and suppression strategies across Portugal. It works to reduce the risk of large-scale wildfires by managing land use and improving inter-agency cooperation.
Portugal is advocating for European Union funding to utilize livestock grazing as a strategic method for wildfire prevention, framing the initiative within the context of climate change mitigation during budget negotiations.
The priority is to continue with prevention. A forest with value and the conditions to be cared for offers a more solid foundation to protect people, heritage, and the local economy.
This year, up to October 15, 270 rural fires were recorded, with 68 hectares burned (180 fires in 2025, when 616 hectares burned).
A pilot project, which will be tested in the Serra do Marão (in the north of the country), aims for an 'almost immediate' intervention.
Golfers at Amendoeira Golf Resort in Silves are sharing the surroundings with some unusual groundskeepers – a flock of 70 sheep and 20 goats that help maintain the resort’s extensive The post Sheep and goats unlikely groundskeepers at Algarve golf resort appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Although considering it too early to assess the summer, the sub-regional commander of Civil Protection highlighted that “the emergence of fires caused by agricultural work has been recurrent.”
As budget negotiations intensify, capitals are reaching for a new argument to keep money in the farming pot: climate change.
Rui Rocha met with firefighters and mayors in Boticas, where 3,000 hectares have burned, and warns: nocturnal and multiple fires are the greatest threat to firefighting efforts.
The Secretary of State for Civil Protection appealed today for the avoidance of fire-risk behaviours and warned of the increased difficulty in firefighting when multiple ignitions occur almost simultaneously, as happened in Boticas.
The Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Rui Rocha, has urged citizens to avoid risky behaviours that could lead to wildfires, highlighting the increased difficulty in firefighting when multiple ignitions occur simultaneously, particularly at night. Citing reports that the vast majority of fires are human-caused, Rocha emphasized the need for vigilance and responsibility, especially as the IPMA has extended weather warnings for high fire risk across 14 districts. The government is currently conducting field meetings in affected areas to evaluate response strategies and identify potential improvements before the end of the fire season.
A rest area, a new hangar, and runway lighting are among the planned works. The projects are expected to be completed before the next fire season.
After the major wildfires of 2017, a village in the Serra do Açor recovered an old way of caring for the land: putting goats on the mountain. Today, Cátia, Nair, and Anna accompany a community herd of about 170 animals across 400 hectares of mountain terrain. The goats eat vegetation, clear paths, and help reduce fuel for wildfires. Along the way, they provided work for three young people, won over the village, and reached social media. “The goats are the real influencers,” the shepherdesses guarantee. The report is by journalist Tiago Palma, with cinematography by Pedro Batista and editing by Teresa Almeida.
REPORT || In the Serra do Açor, three young shepherdesses look after about 170 goats that roam 400 hectares of common land, eating the vegetation that fuels wildfires and bringing human presence back to paths where almost no one goes anymore. The community herd was born after the 2017 fires and ended up creating jobs, cheese, a new relationship with the village, and a small celebrity status on social media. However, Cátia Costa, Nair Carocinho, and Anna Cavinato reject the title of influencers. “The goats are the real influencers.”
FEATURE REPORT || After the major wildfires of 2017, a village in the Serra do Açor recovered an old way of managing the land: putting goats on the mountain. Today, Cátia, Nair and Anna look after a community herd of about 170 animals across 400 hectares of mountain terrain. The goats eat vegetation, clear paths and help reduce fuel for wildfires. Along the way, they provided work for three young women, won over the village and reached social media. “The goats are the real influencers,” the shepherdesses claim. The report is by journalist Tiago Palma, with cinematography by Pedro Batista and editing by Teresa Almeida. LEARN MORE: The Happy Shepherdesses against fire. These “influencers” eat everything and leave nothing behind.
The National Federation of Common Lands stated that wildfire prevention requires a continuous presence in the territory. It added that there should be greater appreciation for the communities that manage rural spaces.
An education and awareness programme will be implemented by the Portuguese Red Cross and is funded by the Z Zurich Foundation.
The Prime Minister states that he receives the “criticism from the President of the Republic naturally” and guarantees that the Government understands the concerns.
It is the day of the individual time trial, a route of over 17 km between Anadia and Águeda. Also, António José Seguro calls for more work on wildfire prevention.
And he says he is observing the increase in economic pressure in Tehran. Also, in the Volta a Portugal, Frenchman Alexis Guérin will make his debut this Monday in the yellow jersey.
He regrets that many of the recommendations made year after year to improve wildfire prevention remain unimplemented. Also, in sports, Benfica drew with Académico de Viseu.
A match without fans and without a win for Benfica, who drew with the Viseu team, which is returning to the I Liga after 37 years. Also, Donald Trump reveals he is “semi-negotiating” with Iran.
Luís Neves states that the criticisms made by Seguro concerning the fires should be viewed as alerts.
The Minister of Internal Administration said today that the warnings and remarks from the President of the Republic are always seen as a form of alert to reflect upon and correct what needs to be corrected.
Seguro criticises the administrations of former Prime Minister Costa and current Prime Minister Montenegro regarding insufficient funding for wildfire prevention measures.
António José Seguro regrets that many of the recommendations made year after year to improve wildfire prevention remain shelved. Also, Israel rejects plan for Gaza.
In a speech during the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Guarda Fire Department, António José Seguro criticised the “much that remains to be done” since the 2017 wildfires, as well as unfulfilled promises, such as the recovery of the burnt area in the Serra da Estrela, and reiterated the need to focus on prevention.
The President of the Republic states that the revitalisation of the Serra da Estrela region has been a long-standing unfulfilled promise.
The three lighters he possessed were seized and he was subjected to weekly check-ins.
