Government creates framework with "expedited" support for agriculture

The government will soon approve support for major forest fires, which includes "expedited" compensation for farmers with losses under 10,000 euros, and should reach Ponte da Barca from September, it was announced this Friday.

"The government already has the funds [to support agriculture with losses under €10,000]. We agreed with the mayor of Ponte da Barca that, in the most dramatic cases, the council will provide funds. For example, in cases where animals are starving for food. Beyond that, we expect to begin paying compensation under €10,000, which is the overwhelming majority here, starting in September," the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion revealed to reporters during a visit to several areas affected by the fire that started on July 26th and was brought under control on August 3rd in the Peneda-Gerês National Park (PNPG) in the municipality of Ponte da Barca, Viana do Castelo district.

According to Castro Almeida, the issue is “ very expeditious support, without documents, through an inspection by a technician from the City Council and the Regional Coordination and Development Commission .”

This measure comes under a decree-law that the Government will approve “in principle at the next Council of Ministers” to “define a general framework of support in the event of major forest fires”.

“So that we don’t have to carry out renovations every year,” said the minister.

The intention is to create “ a general framework ” to “ apply to each case, year after year, because it is clear that we will continue to have fires over the years,” explained Castro Almeida.

“We want [the fires] to become smaller and cause less damage,” he noted.

The support is, according to the minister, “aimed at supporting houses that burn , factories that burn , and in this case there must be insurance for the factory, municipal facilities and Private Social Solidarity Institutions that have been damaged”.

For losses above 10 thousand euros, "the most demanding documentary proof of the losses must be provided", but funds are also provided for, explained the Minister of Agriculture and the Sea, José Manuel Fernandes, who also accompanied the visit, together with the Secretary of State for the Environment, João Manuel Esteves, former mayor of Arcos de Valdevez, in the district of Viana do Castelo, and former president of the PNPG co-management committee.

The president of the Union of Parishes of Entre Ambos-os-Rios, Ermida and Germil, one of those affected during the fire in the PNPG, said that the damage assessment is still being done, refusing to disclose the amount that may be involved.

The Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) revealed to Lusa on Monday that the flames consumed 5,786 hectares of the PNPG, according to provisional data.

The PNPG was created in 1971, is managed by the ICNF and occupies an area of 69,596 hectares and covers the districts of Braga (municipality of Terras de Bouro), Viana do Castelo (municipalities of Melgaço, Arcos de Valdevez and Ponte da Barca) and Vila Real (municipality of Montalegre).