Replanting of Leiria’s ancient pine forest – “brutally devastated” by wildfires last summer – will start in July, says a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, and take up to five years.
Meantime, the causes of the fires remain unclear, though arson continues to be cited. Only last weekend, media reports described “homemade incendiary devices” found on the land with “pine cones at their centre”, supposedly to aid ignition.
UPDATE MONDAY PM
PJ police confirm they are actively investigating arson.
86% of the forest was burnt, though much of the wood can and will be salvaged. RTP claims the State is hoping to raise up to a million and a half euros from wood which has started to be chopped and stacked.
