LISBON, July 30 (Xinhua) — The Ministry of Environment and Climate Action (MAAC) announced on Sunday that Portugal has experienced a significant decrease in rural fires and burned area this year compared to the average annual level of the past decade.
According to the MAAC, until July 28, there has been a 27 percent reduction in rural fires and a 70 percent decrease in burned area. This year’s numbers mark the third fewest fires and the fourth smallest burned area during this period since 2013.
The ministry attributed this improvement to the implementation of the Integrated Management System for Rural Fires. Previous to 2017, the government allocated more funds towards combating rural fires; however, now 50 percent of the budget is dedicated to fire prevention.
“The total investment has more than doubled compared to the 2017 level,” stated the MAAC. The current funding amounts to 500 million euros (551.8 million U.S. dollars).
Credit: The Star : News Feed
