Owners of affected areas may receive between €1,000 and €1,500 per hectare cleared, in a program primarily aimed at reducing the increased risk of forest fires and curbing the spread of pests resulting from the accumulation of biomass and fallen trees.

With a total allocation of €40 million from the Environmental Fund, the measure focuses on rapidly restoring the territory's safety and resilience.

The Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, confirmed that the process for accessing funding has been significantly streamlined to ensure that funds reach the 22 affected municipalities as quickly as possible.

Breaking with traditional subsidy models, owners of damaged plots are exempt from submitting invoices, receipts, or other proof of contractual expenses related to the cleaning work.

The Executive Branch has determined that, to validate eligibility for support, applicants need only present visual evidence of the work carried out by submitting a photograph of the cleared land.

Funds will be distributed through local authorities, which will validate the situations and transfer the funds directly to the owners, in proportion to the area intervened.

In terms of support, the municipality of Leiria stands out as the most benefited by the measure, concentrating an allocation of over €13 million due to the severity of the impacts recorded in its territory.

Following Leiria on the list of municipalities with budgetary priority and significant funds are the territories of Alcobaça, Ourém, Marinha Grande, Sertã, and Proença-a-Nova.

Property owners wishing to report damage and qualify for this extraordinary subsidy can do so digitally via the Environmental Fund's official website or directly at the municipal council services in the municipality where the property is located.

The formal application submission deadline is now underway and ends at 6 pm on 29 June. The supervisory body has also established dedicated channels to clarify technical questions, enabling citizens to contact the Environmental Fund support teams directly to expedite the completion of processes.