“The new deadline is 15 May”, said the tutelage of the Environment and Climate Action, referring to the extension of the deadline for carrying out the fuel management works.

At the Council of Ministers dedicated to forests, on 4 March, the Minister of Environment and Climate Action, João Matos Fernandes, announced the Government's intention to extend the land clearing period by the owners until 15 May, considering the weather conditions and the situation of confinement due to the covid-19 pandemic.

"This results, of course, from the greatest difficulty in terms of the pandemic, but above all [because] we are able to do it. The abundant February rains make the land have a lot of water, there is a lot of moisture in the soil and, therefore, we do not estimate any increased risk", said Matos Fernandes.