In the golden fields of Alentejo, Ana Ribeiro, 55, hacks at dry brush, her hands aching as she tries to save her farm from Portugal’s wildfire crackdown. The government’s rules, with fines up to €5,000 for uncleared land, demand a 50-meter buffer around properties by June 1. As the National Republican Guard (GNR) sweeps through, checking compliance, rural families feel the squeeze of a policy born from tragedy but heavy with cost. With a heatwave nearing, the fight to prevent fires is testing Portugal’s countryside.

The policy stems from the 2017 Pedrógão Grande fires that killed 66, prompting laws to curb wildfire fuel. In 2024, fires ravaged 143,313 hectares, mostly in the north, killing nine and destroying homes. GNR officers, like Felizardo in Coruche, inspect overgrown plots, urging action. “We’re here to save lives,” he told a farmer, his boots dusty from the field. A wet spring delayed clearing, but with 40°C temperatures forecast, urgency grips the nation.

Ribeiro’s struggle is personal. “I’m alone, and clearing this land costs more than I earn,” she said, gesturing to her 2-hectare plot. Portugal’s wildfire crisis, fueled by eucalyptus monocultures and climate-driven heat, is Europe’s worst, burning 93,731 hectares annually from 2009–23. The government, backed by EU funds, pilots fire-resistant landscapes in three regions. But rural depopulation leaves land untended, and fines hit hard. “Five thousand euros is a year’s income,” said farmer Manuel Costa, facing a €3,000 penalty.

In Sever do Vouga, some see the crackdown’s value. “Cleared land stopped the fire from reaching my house,” said firefighter João Oliveira. Others feel punished. “The government should help with costs,” said Costa. The EU’s Copernicus system reported 1.4 megatonnes of carbon from 2024’s fires, a climate warning. Subsidies exist, but bureaucracy slows delivery. Experts like Tiago Ermitão from the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere push for native trees. “Eucalyptus burns too fast,” he said.

Portugal faces systemic hurdles: abandoned land and flammable forests. A €5 million municipal fund aims to help, but trust is low. Can fines prevent fires without breaking families? Will Portugal rethink its forests? As Ribeiro works her land, she hopes for safety—and a reprieve from penalties.

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