Land cleaning deadline for rural and forest lands extended to 31st May 2024
The Government today (30th April) decided to extend for another month, until May 31, the deadline for forest owners and producers to clean forests and land, informed the office of the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
“The decision is related to the rainfall recorded in recent months and the high water content in the soil, which affected many of the fuel management operations and encouraged the rapid growth of vegetation in the areas already intervened”, the note explains.
Priority Parish for fuel management (land cleaning) issued 27th February 2024 Despacho 2171/2024
(scroll down for map and details)
Cleaning of land through burning cut and piled debris or extensive land burning
Decreto-Lei n.º 82/2021 has made extensive changes concerning this topic. Please scroll down to the relevant section on this page concerning how and when to seek authorisation or prior notification. The full law can be downloaded here.
UPDATE 27th February 2024
Land cleaning priority inspections areas and deadlines
List of 991 priority municipalities published and inspection schedules. Scroll down to the section concerned.
It is important that land cleaning is completed by 31st May 2024.
It is important that all safety steps are taken when carrying out fuel management works especially burning debris and use of machinery in high temperatures. These are explained further down this page.
Fuel management is the reduction of plant and woody material in order to make it difficult for fire to spread vertically and horizontally. In summary, it means cutting grass, shrubs and trees in some areas – known as cleaning .
When the fire reaches the areas where the fuel management has been carried out, it will decrease in intensity. Houses and villages are therefore safer as a result. It also means that firefighters can intervene more effectively and safely where fuel management has been carried out.
Those who own a house in the country or in the forest are more vulnerable to fires because of the proximity of vegetation. The law states that all the owners, tenants, users and entities that own lands located in rural areas, even if they are not the owners of the buildings, are obliged to undertake fuel management.
Also responsible for fuel management are the entities responsible for the road, rail and electric networks, among others, as well as the management entities of industrial areas, campsites, logistics centres and other infrastructures.
This page is there to help people comply with these rules and restriction.
The new Agency for the Integrated Management of Rural Fires (AGIF) has produced information on land cleaning in Portuguese which can be downloaded here and a video which can be downloaded here.
The AGIF’s campaign is PortugalChama – Portugal Calls for all. We are working very closely with the AGIF concerning their work and to help keep people aware so they can preventive and protective measures.
Decree Law 16/2019 introduces changes by requiring registration to burn debris and approval process for pasture renewal burning. This page gives details.
Forests and shrub land occupy about 67% of mainland Portuguese territory (ICNF 2017 Forest Profile). Of the 35% of area occupied by forests, only 3% are public land. Much of the forest is privately or communally owned, mostly in small parcels less than 1 hectare, and can’t be used for farming or cultivated agricultural due to poor soils and geography. Yet 80% of Portugal’s forests are not managed.
Determining ownership can be a challenge for many of these small and unmanaged plots, even for the government agencies charged with enforcing forest fire prevention laws. Many owners who may have inherited family property live outside the country and their contact information is unknown. In other cases, ownership information is registered but not made available.
Preventing rural fires is a continuous and comprehensive task. Regular maintenance of forested areas should be the immediate priority for any landowner to protect their assets, alongside implementing long-term measures to mitigate risks and strengthen forest resilience.
In Portugal, there are specific legal obligations related to fire prevention. One of the most important measures is the creation of protection strips and clearing around properties. These strips serve as a physical barrier against fire spread, enabling firefighters to have a higher likelihood of controlling fires in case of an outbreak.
Mountainous areas are naturally more vulnerable to fires due to a greater diversity of factors affecting fire behaviour, such as slope and wind direction and speed. However, even in these cases, there are areas more resistant to fire. North-facing slopes, with less exposure to sunlight, are generally more humid, cooler, less wind-exposed, and with less vegetation. When exposed to fire, fires have lower speed and lower probability of spread.
Regarding making the property more fire-resistant, you should aim to reduce the tree density on the property and keep the land as clear as possible of shrubs and other ground-level species.
In addition to removing fuel from the ground, this will allow fire-resistant trees and other species to grow naturally and eventually limit the existence of ground vegetation.
Although it is a long-term task, it is essential to restore the natural resilience of your property by removing invasive and non-native species, such as acacias or eucalyptus, and replacing them with species such as oaks, chestnuts, cork oaks, holm oaks, fruit trees, among others.
Since 2006 Portugal has had in place laws concerning “fuel management” the cleaning of land. The aim of these to prevent the spread of fires, in particular, reaching populated areas. The various laws and government information are outlined in this page.
This law was introduced in 2006 and is referred extensively in our newsletters and previously on this website over the last 5 years. The main points concerning fuel management are referred to in Article 15 Protection of Persons and Property, which stipulates that all owners, tenants or other entities holding land adjoining buildings which includes houses, shipyards, warehouses, workshops, factories or other structures, are legally obliged to carry out fuel management within a range of 50 metres around those buildings. This law has been extensively revised since the fires in 2017, and the wording of the revised laws refer to the articles in 124/2006 28th June. In undertaking fuel management please refer to the subsequent revisions below.
It is mandatory to carry out the management of fuels in a minimum range of 50 meters around the buildings or facilities (dwellings, yards, warehouses, workshops, factories or other equipment) located in rural spaces. This is known as the “defensible space”. This range is measured from the outer masonry of the building. In the case of population clusters (10 or more houses) this range extends up to 100 meters. Please note that the deadline for fuel management has been deferred from 3oth April to 31st May 2024.
It is important to note, however that this does not mean destroying everything within these ranges, but simply following the government laws on what should or should not be cut down or pruned. The mandatory steps that should be taken are as follows with more detailed information available in our definitive guide :
These measures do not apply to properly cared -for gardens and farmland (except fallow land and permanent grazing land).
As fires are in recent years have occurred earlier in the year, steps were put in place with revised legislation last year included in which is that is mandatory for land owners to take steps to manage their land to protect their properties against rural fires by 15th March as shown in the drawing above. (Please see extension to 30th April above)
The deadline of 31st May, 2019 is set for the municipalities to ensure the completion of the work, including that done on the land of the non-compliant forest owners. It also gives notice that the penalties for non-compliance are doubled, now varying between €280 and €10,000 for individuals and between €1,600 and €120,000 for collective entities such as companies.
Earlier laws for reference
Decree Law no 114/2017 29th December
Decree-Law no 10/2018 of 14th June.
The extreme consequences of fires in the territory, together with changes in climatic conditions, have highlighted the need to increase the safety of populations and their property by clarifying the criteria for managing vegetation. These are clarified in Decree law update: law n.º10/2018, 14th February.
More detailed reading – Criteria for the management of fuels within the secondary fuel management network
For the purposes of fuel management in the scope of the surrounding secondary fuel management networks to buildings, population clusters, equipment and infrastructures, to tree strata, shrubs, not integrated into agricultural areas, with the exception of fallow and pasture areas or gardens, the following criteria shall apply:
The distance between the canopies of the trees must be at least 10 metres for maritime pine and eucalyptus trees, and should be pruned to 50% of their height if they are 8 metres tall or less; or if more than 8 m in height then pruned at least 4 metres above the ground.
For species not mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the distance between the canopies of the trees must be at least 4 metres and should be pruned to 50% of their height if they are 8 metres tall or less; or if more than 8 m in height then pruned at least 4 metres above the ground.
In the area containing shrub, the maximum height of the vegetation may not exceed 50 centimetres.
In the area containing scrub, the maximum height of the vegetation may not exceed 20 centimetres.
II – In the case of road network infrastructures to which 10 metres clearance band on each side of a road must be maintained PLUS the distance of the vertical projection of nearest tree canopies. For non-concession roads (those not owned by companies) or those under the responsibility of municipality, the owner of the land on which the road is a boundary or passes through, is responsible for the fuel management.
III – In the bands of surrounding fuel management to buildings the following criteria must be complied with:
The canopies of trees and shrubs must be at least 5 metres distance from the building and avoid any projection over the roof of the building;
Under exceptional circumstances, where the tree cover has special heritage or landscape value, a distance of less than 5 metres is admissible, as long as enhanced provisions are made to keep the area clear of combustible materials both horizontally and vertically, and steps are taken to ensure that no combustible materials will accumulate on the roof of the building.
Whenever possible, a paved range from 1 m to 2 m wide, surrounding the whole building
No accumulation may occour of combustable substances, such as firewood, wood or leftovers from forest or agricultural exploitation, as well as other high inflammable substances.
In the case of protected tress such as Cork and Holm Oak trees, it is necessary to obtain permission from the ICNF to either cut down or prune these trees.
The application forms to undertake either cutting or pruning can be found in our resource centre below. They can be emailed to the ICNF.
This amendment sets out guidelines for inspection that ensures the compliance with deadlines for cleaning of the land have been observed in the designated priority areas. The parishes are identified as 1st or 2nd Priority. In reference to Decree-Law No. 124/2006 of 28 Juno, inspection priority between March 16 and April 30 is also given for fuel management on infrastructure such as road and rail networks, electric power lines and gas transmission etc. Also in reference to Decree-Law No. 124/2006 of 28 Juno, inspection priority between 1 May and May 31 is given for compulsory fuel management of no less than 100 metres around population clusters within forest areas.
If a neighbours land is within your fuel management band then the owner of land is responsible for the fuel management under the requirement laid down by law.
Firstly check to see the condition of the land and whether it poses a fire risk to your property. Is it covered in trees or other vegetation that does not meet the requirements under the law.
If you know the owner of the land discuss with the neighbour the situation and ensure the neighbour complies.
However often the owner of the land is not known or perhaps lives overseas. The matter is sometimes more complicated that your land can be boarded by several lots belonging to different owners.
If you wish to try and locate the owner yourself this can be quite challenging. Asking local people in the area may help or approaching the Junta da Freguisia.
If this fails alert the competent authorities to this situation, namely the GNR and the Town Hall. You can also use the telephone number 808 200 520 or the website http://www.gnr.pt/ambiente.aspx to report the situation.
The GNR is responsible for the fiscalistion process namely initiating fines in situations of non-compliance
If you wish to report neighbouring land either to the GNR: the following should be included in the correspondence:
Upon receipt the Câmara Municipal and GNR have now to verify the reported land is in breach of the fuel management law. If so the Câmara Municipal has a maximum of 5 days to notify the owners or responsible entities and set them a deadline.
If the owners cannot located or unknown or the deadline passes with no action being taken it is then the responsibility of the Câmara Municipal to get the work done usually using hired contractors.
Priority areas for inspections
Latest for 2024
Priority areas for inspections
Dated 27th February 2024
For 2024 the Government has prioritised 991 parishes at risk.
The priority areas for the inspection of fuel management are by parish according to the classification of the Institute of Nature and Forest Conservation, ICNF. For 2024 a total of 991 are Priority list and Priority map 2o24
Each year people were fined for not managing their land. This year with far greater priority being given to this, there is the potential for these figures to rise should people not comply.
Prevention also comes before enforcement however, so campaigns are being undertaken throughout the country to create awareness among the community in order that as much land is cleaned by the 31st May 2024. These awareness campaigns are being coordinated by AGIF through Portugalcharma.pt and undertaken by the GNR, civil protection, Bombeiros and others, including volunteer organizations, through the media and visits to those in isolated areas.
The GNR and ICNF have emphasised that it is important to note that the whole object of the campaign is to ensure that the areas where the risks are high are cleaned to help protect life and property in the event of a fire. Where reports have been made to the council and or GNR, or they themselves have noted areas that are required to be cleaned, the owner or tenant will usually be warned with advice given on what needs to be done, before enforcement action is taken.
If, however, by the 31st May land has not been cleaned then a contravention order may be initiated. However this will not be processed if by the 31st May the owner has completed the fuel management as required.
After 31st May land owners/tenants, who do not comply after such warnings by the GNR or Civil Protection, may receive in due course a notification by post of the fine, giving the amount, how it needs to be paid and the payment deadline. Failure to do so will result in further action and the likelihood of higher penalties.
Action under “Operation Safe Forest 2019” ,developed by the GNR through the Service of Protection of Nature and the Environment (SEPNA) and the Protection and Relief Intervention Group, includes creating and providing clarification to the population as well as identifying areas which need to be cleaned, recording their geo-referencing in order this is carried out. out.
This prevention work is being done by April 1, identifying these lands, and from there, the security forces will return to the locations to check whether or not this cleaning was done. It is then communicated to the councils for the months of April and May to carry out this work itself
Fines: The fines for failing to clean land for 2018 have been doubled and are currently €280 – €10,000 for individuals and €1600 – €120,000 for corporations
Typically around half the fires are caused by burning of debris and extensive burning getting out of control. Portugal also experiences an unusually high number of ignitions relative to geographic size and population as compared with other Southern European countries with a similar climate.
Fire has been a part of rural Portuguese tradition for centuries. It’s used to clear and prepare agriculture fields, dispose of rubbish and debris, cook food in outdoor pits, promote new growth in pastoral areas, even to control snakes around the perimeter of houses. While these behaviours may not be risky during much of the year in cooler, wetter periods; they can become damaging, even deadly, when the weather changes for the worse. However, not everyone complies. In fact, some try to evade detection by burning late at night when the smoke can’t be seen. Some continue burning because they’ve been doing it for decades and are dismissive of government regulations.
For many people living in rural areas the disposal of debris from tree cuttings and bushes is a constant challenge. The normal process is to burn these, but in doing so there are a number of laws that dictate when and under what conditions this is possible. Fuel management of land is essential to prevent the spread of fires so understanding the law is essential.
However, sometimes there is confusion between burning debris and pasture renewal burning. It is important to understand the differences because the approval conditions are very different.
Debris burning ( Queima), is used mainly in the cleaning of land before the critical fire period and takes places after bushes, shrubs, tree branches have been cut, gathered together in small piles and then burned. Do not place these piles however under trees.
Pasture renewal burning ( Queimada) is generally for grassland renewal, the burning of stubble and forest debris that are uncut or cut on the ground, but NOT gathered into piles.
1 – In rural areas, in municipalities where there is a “very high” or “maximum” level of rural fire danger, under the terms of article 43:
a) It is not allowed to make bonfires for recreation, leisure, or in the context of popular festivals;
b) It is only allowed to use fire for cooking food, as well as the use of burning and combustion equipment intended for lighting or cooking, in places expressly provided for that purpose, namely in leisure and recreation parks and others when properly infrastructured and identified as such;
c) The burning of heaps, including those resulting from mandatory phytosanitary requirements, is subject to authorization by the local authority, under the terms of the previous article, which must define the necessary monitoring for its implementation, taking into account the susceptibility to fire in the area at any given time.
2 – When the rural fire danger index in the municipality is below the “very high” level, under the terms of article 43, the burning of piles, including that resulting from phytosanitary requirements of mandatory compliance, depends on:
a) Authorization from the municipal council in the period from 1 June to 31 October, which must define the necessary monitoring for its implementation, taking into account the susceptibility to fire of the area at the given moment;
b) Mere prior communication to the municipal council, in the remaining periods of the year.
3 – The person responsible for burning the piles referred to in the previous number cannot leave the place during the time in which it takes place and until it is duly extinguished and its effective extinction is guaranteed.
4 – The burning of piles, without authorization and without monitoring defined by the local authority, is considered the use of intentional fire.
5 – Municipalities, parishes and producer organizations can develop alternative methods of disposal and treatment of leftovers, namely via composting, areas for deposit and temporary storage of biomass or a collection system with the citizens.
1 – It is not allowed to carry out fires in municipalities where there is a “very high” or “maximum” level of rural fire danger, under the terms of article 43.
2 – Outside of the situations provided for in the previous number, the carrying out of fires is only allowed with the authorization of the municipality, under the terms of the law that establishes the framework for the transfer of competences to local authorities, taking into account the proposal to carry out the fire, the meteorological and operational framework, as well as the date and place where it is proposed.
3 – Burning can only be carried out with the accompaniment of an accredited technician in controlled fire or, in his absence, of a team of firefighters, a team of forest sappers or agents of the national body of forest agents, the special civil protection force, the force of forest firefighters or the special protection and rescue unit.
4 – The performance of burnings by certified technicians in controlled fire requires prior communication.
5 – The authorization request or prior communication is addressed to the municipality, by telephone or through the electronic platform provided by ICNF, I.P., with the municipality having to register all authorization requests and prior communications received by telephone on this platform.
6 – The carrying out of fires without authorization and without the accompaniment defined in this article must be considered the use of intentional fire.
Safe Communities Portugal has translated the ICNF User Manual to burning Queimas and Queimadas into English which can be downloaded from the ICNF website here.
Burning debris is one of the most common ways of disposing of cut waste from your land but when uncontrolled is one of the biggest causes of rural fires.
The ICNF has provided a comprehensive list of precautions to be taken when burning debris at times when it is permissible to do so – this is known as a controlled burn. This is used to eliminate left-over materials from forestry operations or farming, such as pruned leaves and branches from vines and olive trees, among others, cut up and piled into a heap.
The precautions to be taken include when and under what conditions fires can be lit and how they should be managed. Specifically it covers issues such as: humidity, air temperature, wind, fuels, avoiding slopes; the gradual feeding of fires; monitoring fires; water supply; utensils to be available and the proper management of the aftermath during the period of extinguishing and beyond. Many fires are caused by people burning debris or land without taking the proper precautions.
These very helpful tips will allow fires to be lit and controlled, during periods where it is permitted to do so, without the risk of the fire becoming uncontrolled and threatening your life and property and that of others.
The most basic advice is to choose cloudy days; take your mobile phone with you so you can raise the alarm in the case of fire and have someone else with you when you undertake the burn. Do not undertake controlled burns when the weather is hot and dry or when it is windy.
Special care must be taken when using machinery to clean land especially in high temperatures:
Please note that the information on this page is from official government authorities