Portugal launches satellite‑based fire susceptibility map for 2026 season

A new 10‑metre resolution satellite map covering all 3,049 mainland Portuguese parishes has been released to forecast fire risk for the 2026 season. Developed by the “A Minha Terra” platform together with Dutch fire‑science firm MEJOR Technologies, the map adds a seasonal layer of fuel‑load and vegetation data to the existing structural fire‑risk map produced by the national forest authority (ICNF).

The analysis shows that roughly one‑third of all parishes exhibit elevated fuel levels this year, rising to two‑thirds in the interior of the Algarve after an unusually wet winter and early warm spring. In contrast, parts of the interior north and centre, such as Pampilhosa da Serra, Arganil and Covilhã, display lower risk because the 2025 fires depleted available fuel.

The platform also offers a free, five‑minute online checklist that landowners can use to plan targeted vegetation clearing before the official deadline of 30 June 2026. The tool aims to guide authorities in allocating resources for preventive work and to improve overall wildfire preparedness across Portugal.