Chestnut producers in Bragança report deer damage to over 100 trees

Chestnut producers in the village of Cova de Lua, located in Bragança, are reporting significant damage caused by deer, which have destroyed or damaged more than 100 chestnut trees. David Garcia Fernandes, president of the local Commons Commission, described the damage as trees being broken, peeled, and having their tips cut.

Local farmers have noted that these incidents are recurring annual issues. While legislation dictates that damages should be covered by the entity responsible for the hunting zone—in this case, the local parish council—producers face significant bureaucratic hurdles. The commission expressed frustration that the compensation process is slow and lacks guarantees, leading many farmers to abandon claims altogether.

There are concerns that the lack of effective financial support and the difficulty in obtaining indemnities will discourage farmers from maintaining and cleaning cultivated lands, potentially leading to long-term agricultural consequences in the region. Producers have previously sought the creation of a working group involving the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of the Environment to facilitate access to aid, but they report receiving no response.