ICNF nears completion of Leiria forest storm-clearing near town

Portugal's nature and forestry institute (ICNF) expects to finalise on Wednesday the procedures to remove wood broken or fallen by storm Kristin in the Mata Nacional de Leiria, focusing on areas bordering homes, campsites and Marinha Grande town. Around 23,000 cubic metres of timber will have been cleared from these higher-risk interface zones through a public auction and two negotiated procedures. The ICNF says this priority phase targeted material posing greatest fire risk to people and property. Once complete, the institute will launch a new auction covering fallen wood deeper inside the forest, considered lower risk due to its distance from populated areas.