The Secretary of State for Forests, Rui Ladeira, visited the municipality of Baião on 25 March to monitor the work underway in forest planning, management and defence.
The visit included observing the implementation of the Primary Network of Fuel Management Bands in the Marão mountain range, an essential fire prevention project that also covers the neighbouring municipality of Amarante.
Afterwards, Rui Ladeira went to the Aboboreira mountain range, where he assessed various initiatives implemented by the municipality of Baião to promote environmental and forestry sustainability, specifically the reafforestation that is being carried out in this mountain range, on land recently acquired by the municipality.
The actions include the acquisition of land for reforestation, the creation of a forestry intervention zone (ZIF) and investment in upgrading local infrastructure.
With a strategic eye on the future, the mayor emphasised that, in addition to regenerating the affected areas, the municipality is committed to transforming the forest into a revenue-generating resource, contributing to territorial development and promoting sustainable tourism:
‘If the fire hadn’t happened, I would be very proud to present this afforestation project as an example for the region and the country. However, even in the face of these adversities, we have acquired more land so that we can effectively expand the reforestation area, demonstrating to the owners that the forest can be seen as a resource capable of generating income and not just as a cost. The new ZIF is exactly along these lines.’
The mayor also said that ‘various initiatives are underway to ensure sustainability, looking to the future not only from the perspective of regenerating what has been lost, but also, for example, by taking advantage of the voluntary carbon market.’
‘These initiatives contribute to environmental preservation and sustainability, because we see our mountains and rivers as a potential to be exploited, as part of our strategy of dynamisation and territorial promotion,’ he concluded.
The Secretary of State for Forests emphasised the importance of the actions carried out by the municipality and pointed out that the fires of recent years have highlighted the need for more strategic management of the landscape:
‘We have to work on requalifying the burnt areas and, at the same time, protect those that have not yet been affected. Prevention is essential to avoid future tragedies,’ said Rui Ladeira.
He also emphasised the need to diversify forests, making them more resilient and suited to the characteristics of the soil and climate, because ‘we can’t completely prevent fires, but we can ensure that they are more controllable and cause less damage. This involves effective planning, planting suitable species and valuing the forest as an economic asset, as is being done here in Baião,’ he added.
In addition to reforestation, Rui Ladeira pointed out the importance of complementary practices, such as livestock farming and extensive grazing, to reduce the load of combustible material in the territory. He also mentioned the need to reinforce infrastructure, such as forest paths and water points, to facilitate firefighting.
The Secretary of State’s visit reinforces the collaboration between the central government and the municipalities in implementing forest prevention and enhancement strategies, since ‘if we want a more sustainable territory, we have to work in constant articulation with the municipalities and on various fronts, from the enhancement of property and the forestry sector to the involvement of the population in protecting the landscape,’ concluded Rui Ladeira.
The meeting was also attended by the Northern Regional Director of the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), Sandra Sarmento, the Municipal Civil Protection Coordinator for Baião, José Manuel Ribeiro, the Head of the ICNF Sub-Regional Centre – Rural Fire Management, Paulo Bessa, as well as other technicians from the Secretary of State for Forests, the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests and the Municipality of Baião.
All those involved emphasised the importance of continuing to implement these initiatives in a continuous and integrated manner, with the aim of ensuring that the national territory becomes increasingly resilient, sustainable and prepared to face future challenges.
LAND ACQUISITION FOR REFORESTATION BOOSTS RESILIENCE
The municipality of Baião recently acquired six more plots of land in the Aboboreira mountain range and in the parish of Gôve (Tuaraz). The latter is also intended for the installation of a new water point for fighting fires, and two pilot projects will also be developed on it. One of them is to introduce the broom tree (Genista florida L.), a species traditionally used in Frende’s handmade basketry.
The creation of this experimental plot will make it possible to assess the viability of the local production of this species, contributing to the valorisation of the traditions and cultural heritage of Bahia. The other, in the field of forestry and grazing, will allow an alternative approach to vegetation management to be integrated on an experimental basis, using a mosaic of fuel management plots in strategic locations, taking advantage of the native forest and introducing native sheep and goat species.
As part of the ‘Baião as a Sustainable Destination’ strategy, the creation of an ‘Integrated Landscape Management Area – AIGP’ (an updated version of the ZIF model) is in the final stages of design, in response to the need to organise and manage the landscape and increase the area of forest managed on a scale that promotes resilience to fires, the enhancement of natural capital and the promotion of the rural economy.
