In the quiet village of Nelas, Luis Mendes, 67, drags a rake through dry grass, his shirt soaked with sweat. Portugal’s wildfire crackdown, with fines up to €5,000 for uncleared land, has him scrambling to meet the June 1 deadline. The National Republican Guard (GNR) patrols rural areas, enforcing rules born from the 2017 fires that killed 66. As summer heat builds, Mendes and his neighbors face a policy that’s both a shield against disaster and a threat to their livelihoods.
The law requires a 50-meter cleared zone around homes to curb wildfire spread. In 2024, fires burned 143,313 hectares, mostly in the north, killing nine and gutting homes. GNR officers, like one in Aveiro, walk fields, pointing out risks. “We’re here to keep communities safe,” he said, his clipboard in hand. A wet spring slowed clearing, but with 40°C heat looming, urgency spikes. Portugal’s wildfire crisis, driven by eucalyptus and climate change, leads Europe, with 1.4 megatonnes of carbon emissions in 2024, per the EU’s Copernicus system.
Mendes feels the pressure. “I lost my barn in 2017,” he said, his voice cracking. “But €5,000 is more than I can bear.” Eucalyptus, covering 25% of forests, fuels fierce fires, and rural depopulation leaves plots untended. The government’s National Plan, backed by EU funds, promotes mixed landscapes, but compliance is costly. “I want to help, but I need support,” said Mendes.
In Albergaria-a-Velha, some praise the rules. “Cleared land saved my shop,” said Sofia Pinto, a baker. Others, like farmer Ana Lopes, facing a €2,500 fine, feel cornered. “The government should provide machines,” she said. Experts like Miguel Bugalho from the University of Lisbon urge native forests. “Eucalyptus is a firetrap,” he said. A €5 million fund helps municipalities, but slow delivery sparks distrust.
Portugal grapples with land abandonment and flammable monocultures. Can fines stop fires without hurting villagers? Will support reach those who need it? For now, Mendes clears his land, hoping to protect his home and avoid a crushing penalty.
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