2018, after the forest fire of "Pedrógão Grande" -Forest fires both produce and are a product of inequality and injustice.
Forest fires are almost a constituent part of the summer in Portugal. Since projections indicate a larger increase in the impacts of extreme weather events , forest fires pose a significant threat to forest in the Mediterranean European regions . These fires cause serious impact on sustainable development; have social, ecological and economic consequences; and have direct and indirect impact upon people's lives. Although forest fires are considered to be a natural feature of the mediterranean climate, year after year the portuguese forest gets deeply impoverished, causing damages in the flora and fauna, which makes it the main environmental concern in Portugal . 2017 forest fires’ made the headlines of every major news agencies: first with the fire on the 17th of June and not long after with the fire of October 15th. Both episodes were particularly dramatic resulting in over 100 deaths. The fire that started in Escalos Fundeiros/Pedrógão Grande rapidly spread to the contiguous municipalities and resulted in 66 deaths . BBC called it “deadly” ; The Guardian considered it to be “Portugal’s worst fire” , the NY times said it was “fed by poor choices and inaction” . Dramatic images were spread through the media, either showing the “death road” , the road N236 where almost 50 people died, or the homes that were completely destroyed, or the thousands of burnt trees. Castanheira de Pêra is absolutely beautiful. There was a huge part that is still "carved in fire", however it is still surrounded with green and there is definetely space for development .