Portugal's central region clears storm Kristin damage in Castelo Branco and Lousã

The municipality of Castelo Branco is conducting clean‑up and tree‑removal work in its camping park after the strong winds of storm Kristin felled numerous trees and disrupted access. Public tender attempts failed, so the council hired specialised services to clear debris and restore safety and circulation, aiming to reopen the site promptly.

In the neighboring municipality of Lousã, officials have approved a €429 million integrated operation (OIGP 2.0) to remove storm‑fallen timber, manage residual biomass, and restore forest roads across roughly 13,000 ha. The plan includes temporary storage sites, phytosanitary controls and public consultation, and will be submitted to the Institute for Conservation of Nature and Forests for final approval. Both initiatives are part of government‑backed efforts to recover the central region’s forested areas after the early‑year storm.