Vale da Aveleira severely affected by fire

The wildfire that broke out on the 14th of this month in Candal, a schist village in the Serra da Lousã, reached a devastating scale and intensity within just a few hours. Fueled by highly flammable forest areas dominated by acacia, eucalyptus, and dense pine, the fire front quickly expanded and gave rise to new hotspots, rendering the situation uncontrollable. By late morning the following day, the Integral Bio-Reserve of Vale da Aveleira was already surrounded by flames, in a setting marked by extremely high temperatures and extreme wind phenomena.

It was under violent conditions that the fire entered the woodland, affecting the majority of its area. The aftermath is devastating. The little greenery that survived on the slopes of the Bio-Reserve remains only in the valleys and steep cliffs of this conservation area and along adjacent water lines, which burned with much less intensity and locally slowed the fire’s advance. However, the damage to the vegetation cover is severe, in what constitutes a true ecological catastrophe that irreversibly compromises the future of these ecosystems. Most of the mature habitats either succumbed to the fire or were seriously damaged: the climax strawberry tree groves, holm oak woods, Portuguese oak stands, parts of the cherry laurel forests, and countless centuries-old chestnut trees. The ecological losses are immeasurable in what was one of the few ancient woodlands still surviving in Central Portugal.

The rampant spread of acacias in the Serra da Lousã—an issue Milvoz has repeatedly warned about—has now reached colossal proportions, the result of the apathy and inaction of the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), as well as continued poor practices by forestry operators. Now, this invasion will further hinder the recovery of the region's ecosystems. The vast seed bank of this invasive species, built up over decades, has been activated by the fire and will also germinate in areas that had previously remained intact, putting their ecological regeneration at risk.

This tragedy has responsible parties, and they must be held accountable. In an area of recognized conservation importance, part of the Natura 2000 Network, the Portuguese State has accumulated more than 10 years of non-compliance. During this time, active management measures should have been implemented to preserve this Special Area of Conservation and to prevent tragedies such as the one that has just occurred. The neglect of the country’s natural heritage is reflected in the state of abandonment to which the mountain has been left—now seeing some of its most valuable last refuges severely affected.

Milvoz will soon issue a more detailed response and will carry out a field survey to identify the priority areas for the development of a strategic ecological restoration plan, focusing on zones of highest natural value. We call on citizens and organizations who share the will to act for a more sustainable future for the Serra da Lousã to join forces, so that together we can promote strong initiatives for the recovery of the region's natural heritage.