01/06/2005– WWF, together
with the Reforestation Commision in Algarve,
launched the first initiative to fight large-scale
forest fires in Portugal.
Through restoring burnt areas and implementing
appropriate forest and land management, the
initiative aims to support both biodiversity
conservation and economic development in the
region. Following two consecutive summers
of devastating fires in the country and a
particularly dry summer season expected this
year, there is an urgency to act quickly.
“It is the first time in Portugal that such
an initiative is being implemented to tackle
the dramatic destruction of thousands of hectares
of forests by fires," said Luís
Neves Silva, a project coordinator in Portugal.
"We hope this project will help reverse
the accelerated loss of biodiversity and economic
resources in Algarve.”
Known as the Cansino project, the initiative
will focus on Monchique, a key area in the
Algarve which was badly hit by fires in the
last two years. With more than 70,000ha burnt,
this was the biggest surface ever destroyed
by fires in Portugal.
The cork oak forests of Monchique, as well
as nearby Caldeirao, cover more than 40,000ha.
While Caldeirao still has extensive cork oak
forests, in Monchique, the natural landscape
has almost disappeared due to agriculture,
expansion of eucalyptus plantations, and fires
in the last few years.
Monchique's remaining natural cork oak forests
are the richest in Portugal, providing habitats
for the endangered Iberian lynx, Bonelli eagle,
as well as many endemic plant species. The
Monchique forests also contribute to the country’s
economy, through the exploitation of eucalyptus,
cork oak forest products, and ecotourism.
The Cansino project involves restoring the
burnt areas and re-designing forest landscapes
in order to make them more resistant to fires.
Cork oak trees will play a key role as they
are naturally resistant to fires. Patches
of natural cork oak trees will be planted
in key eucalyptus plantations as barriers
against fires.
The project will be implemented over a 4,000ha
zone within the next three years. In the longer
term, WWF aims to plant more cork oak as well
as other tree and shrub species in order to
restore the natural cork oak landscapes in
the region.
“Key to the success of the Cansino project
is participation by everyone, from forest
and plantation owners, to local authorities,"
said José Rosendo, engineer at the
Reforestation Commision in Algarve.
"The project is a unique opportunity
for developing solutions for nature, people
and the economy.”
NOTES:
• According to the European Forest Fires
Information System, the 2003 heat wave in
Europe saw over 25,000 fires, with burnt forest
area totalling 647,069ha. More than half of
this area was in Portugal, making it the worst
forest fire season the country has faced in
the last 23 years. Portugal estimated the
financial cost of the 2003 fires exceeded
€1 billion.
• In the Monchique and Caldeirao mountains
of Portugal – among the ten forest hotspots
in the region identified by WWF – forest fires
have destroyed the habitats of the Iberian
lynx, the Bonelli eagle, and many endemic
plant species.
• Every year, the Mediterranean region is
struck by more than 50,000 fires which burn
up to 800,000ha of forests. Ninety-five per
cent of the fires are deliberate or lit accidentally
by people. However, a WWF study on forest
fires in Spain shows that only 1 per cent
of offenders are prosecuted for criminal offenses.
• According to WWF, large-scale forest fires
throughout the Mediterranean have increased
dramatically during the last few decades,
due mainly to development, land conversion,
rural mismanagement, and overexploitation
of natural resources. In addition, climate
change is provoking longer summer droughts
and extreme weather events such as periods
of high temperatures, very dry air, and strong
winds, along with sudden storms with heavy
rainfall.
• WWF launched a 5-year cork oak landscapes
programme in July 2004 to protect, manage,
and restore the natural wealth of cork oak
landscapes by influencing the policies, practices
and markets that affect them. WWF’s programme
addresses key challenges by promoting sustainable
markets, improving governance, changing policy,
building capacity at local, national and international
levels, and demonstrating solutions through
field projects. The programme will first focus
on Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Tunisia.
