Poor forestry management and a lack of investment are partly to blame for severe forest fires in Portugal which have so far killed 15 people, experts say.
About 162,000ha, 5% of the country’s forests, have been burned this year, costing the country about €925m in damage.
Experts say forest floors are full of dry dead wood which fuels fires. They also say the proliferation of small landholdings and poor record keeping hamper forest management.
The planting of easily combustible pine and eucalyptus trees during recent decades is another source of criticism.
