Portugal recorded a 74% reduction in burnt area, according to data from the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF). Despite this significant decrease, the country continues to be the one with the highest percentage of burned area among all European Union member states.
Throughout this year, nearly 7 thousand fires were counted in Portuguese territory. The North region was the most affected by the fires, suffering the greatest impact in terms of destruction.
Approximately 21 thousand hectares were destroyed by arson, which represents a significant portion of the total burnt area. This statistic shows that intentional human action continues to be a determining factor in the forest fires affecting the country.
