The initiative, part of the Forest Plan 2050 and funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), aims to enhance the capacity for fuel management operations and rural fire prevention. Each municipality received a tractor for this purpose.
The municipalities receiving machinery are Aljustrel, Almodôvar, Barrancos, Castro Verde, Cuba, Ferreira do Alentejo, Grândola, Mértola, Ourique, Santiago do Cacém, Serpa, and Vidigueira.
The Mayor of Santiago do Cacém Municipality, Bruno Gonçalves Pereira, highlighted the importance of the delivery, stating that "what truly makes a difference is the ability to place ourselves at the service of a strategy, to mobilize at the right time, and to use resources where they are most needed." He also noted that fuel management "reduces risks" and strengthens municipal intervention capacity, arguing that the work must be "daily" and carried out "by those who know the territory," despite limited budgets.
The Secretary of State for Forests, Rui Ladeira, accompanied by the Deputy Secretary of State for Internal Administration, Paulo Simões Ribeiro, emphasized that the signing represents "a strong public investment providing vital resources for municipalities, inter-municipal communities, and forest producer organizations." This investment is part of the Forest Plan 2050, which aims for a forest that is "more productive, more resilient, better managed, and, above all, at the service of the Country and future generations."
Nationally, 150 tractors were delivered with a total investment of approximately 27.5 million euros, strengthening the capacity of territorial agents in fuel management.
