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Forest Fires In Portugal: How They Happen And Why They Happen, João F. Gomes

João F Gomes

Forest fires are recurrent phenomena in Southern European countries, due to the nature of Mediterranean forest and climatic characteristics. However, in Portugal, in the last years, forest fires attained the dimension of public calamity and are now endangering sustainability of forest itself, as well as several derived economic activities. This paper reviews the past and current situation of forest fires in Portugal, analyses its main causes and consequences and derives recommendations to effectively overcome this problem.