Portugal faces rising wildfire risks from climate and land policy

Portugal faces increasing vulnerability to devastating forest fires, driven by a combination of climate change and specific land management issues. The El Niño phenomenon is expected to exacerbate these risks by bringing severe droughts, extreme precipitation, and intense heatwaves to the region.

Experts point to the widespread monoculture of eucalyptus as a primary factor in the intensity and speed of fire propagation. This practice is linked to decades of forest policies and the influence of the paper and biomass industries. Additionally, the lack of a completed forest registry complicates land management, as only a third of rural properties in the North and Center regions have been georeferenced, leaving many plots abandoned or poorly maintained.