The initiative by the taxman is in conjunction with the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Agriculture, and stipulates the required measures expected of landowners.
With this deadline fast approaching, The Portugal News, in conjunction with Safe Communities Portugal, has compiled an eight-page supplement (found in the centre pages of this edition) covering questions relating to fire prevention. Several high-profile officials have also provided their input and thoughts on this topic.
In the meantime, a notification was sent out this week by tax authorities reminding citizens that they could face fines of up to 10,000 euros as individuals or 120,000 euros as a company, should they fail to adhere to calls to clean their respective land. Tax officials also reminded recipients of this notification that local town halls have until 31 May to perform tasks neglected by landowners in cleaning their land, with owners being sent the bill for the service. Landowners will also be obliged to permit full access to council workers of their land.
The Prime Minister has meanwhile also joined in the campaign to raise awareness and ensure the country is better prepared in its battle against wildfires this year.
Speaking during a visit to northern Portugal, António Costa called on all citizens to collaborate in making sure Portugal “never has a summer like 2017 again.”
He added that “land cleaning is essential, because to have a fire, combustible material is needed.”
While the Prime Minister recalled that land cleaning has been compulsory since 2006, it was not the Government’s objective “to hand out fines.”
“We do not want to issue fines nor cut funding, but rather to cut shrubs and bushes so they do not present a threat to forests, people and their homes”, explained Mr. Costa.
He also called on all to become actively involved in the prevention of wildfires and suggested that March, in addition to national Tree Day (celebrated on 21 March), also be used to mark the widespread cleaning of land.
Stressing that summer wildfires are prevented in the winter, cleaning of land is transformed from the impossible to the possible, if “all hands join in this task.”
As for questions raised by landowners over cleaning costs, the Prime Minister said they should ask instead what the cost will be if they don’t clean their properties.
“Each piece of land we clean is one more piece of land that will not be a threat to safety and the lives of people.”