Ten people were arrested in the first months of this year on suspicion of forest fire crime, the National Republican Guard (GNR) revealed this Saturday, March 21. More than 40% of owners do not clean their land after signage.
In a summary of rural fire occurrences that compares data from 2025 and 2024, and on a date that marks World Tree and Forest Day, the GNR says that as of Thursday, March 19 of this year, 10 people were arrested for the crime of forest fire. “These data demonstrate firm action in identifying and holding perpetrators accountable.reinforcing the Guard’s response in preventing and repressing behaviors that put people, goods and forestry heritage at risk”, says the GNR today in the text sent to the Lusa agency.
Revealing that rural fires have increased 30% last year compared to 2024, the GNR ends the warning with an appeal: “Protecting the forest is protecting the future“The Portuguese forest, which occupies more than a third of the national territory, constitutes a strategic resource of high environmental, economic and social value, playing a decisive role in protecting soil, regulating water quality and the hydrological cycle, conserving biodiversity and sequestering carbon, in addition to contributing significantly to the creation of jobs, boosting the economy and improving the quality of life of the population,” this police officer points out.
However, he adds, “It is important to highlight that a considerable proportion of rural fires continue to result from negligent behavior or inappropriate practices associated with agricultural and forestry activities, namely the carrying out of burnings and burning of leftovers without due legal framework, as well as other risky actions”.
“In view of the growing concern about the problem of rural fires in Portugal, the GNR considers it essential to reinforce awareness-raising actions and proximity to the population, promoting a culture of collective responsibility in protecting the forest”, he concludes.
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