Faixas Vivas

Faixas Vivas takes its name from the idea of 'living strips': bands of native fauna and flora, rich in biodiversity, that provide shade and retain humidity while acting as a natural barrier against wildfire. The movement argues that Portugal's current Integrated Rural Fire Management System (SGIFR) often works against this logic, leading to the clearing of native vegetation, the spread of invasive species and damage to cultural landscapes, all in the name of fire prevention. Coordinated by Milvoz, a nature conservation association based in Coimbra, the group brings together NGOs, private companies and individual citizens, along with professionals from forestry engineering, biology, ecology, landscape architecture, economics, communication and political science. It draws on academic, private and public sector expertise to back its proposals with scientific evidence, publishing research on its website to support its case. The group's manifesto calls for management practices that respect natural cycles and ecological integrity, more transparency involving citizens, experts and NGOs, and legal reform paired with effective enforcement of fire prevention rules. It cites 270,000 hectares burned in Portugal in 2025, along with more than 20 reported cases of tree felling, as evidence of the scale of the problem. Faixas Vivas has taken its campaign beyond the website, joining the IV Encontro pelas Florestas in Oliveira do Hospital from 1 to 3 May, and participating in public debates such as 'Fogos ou Florestania?' at Culturgest in Lisbon. It has also submitted formal alerts to Portugal's nature conservation institute, ICNF, about large-scale clearing of native forest. The movement continues to seek new members and partner organisations willing to sign its manifesto and push for legislative change.