Portugal hands out 285 tractors to boost wildfire prevention

Portugal's forestry secretary of state, Rui Ladeira, said he is confident forests will be better protected next summer after equipment deliveries to municipalities, intermunicipal communities and forestry producer organisations. Eight tractors were handed to eight Viseu district municipalities, part of a nationwide rollout of 285 tractors and new brush cutters for forest sapper teams, within an 80-million-euro equipment investment under the Floresta 2050 strategy. Between January and September 2025, Portugal recorded 8,032 rural fires burning 74,251 hectares, fewer than 70% of last year's figure. Ladeira said the Floresta Ativa support programme should reopen soon.