Portugal lets firms clear forest land in summer with council approval

Portugal's forestry secretary of state, Rui Ladeira, announced that companies can now remove woody material from land during summer, subject to municipal authorisation via a new ICNF platform launched this week. Firms register their equipment, workers and safety measures, and mayors or their delegates give final approval based on weather and other conditions. Ladeira called the change positive, noting firms previously could not operate in certain contexts. Individual landowners still face a separate deadline, extended to 30 June, to clear vegetation around homes and villages.