LISBON, July 30 (Xinhua) -- This year, till July 28, registers 27 percent less rural fires and 70 percent less burned area in Portugal, compared to the average annual level of the past decade, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Action (MAAC) said on Sunday.
So far, this year has recorded the 3rd smallest number of fires and the 4th fewest burned area compared with the same period since 2013, the MAAC said in a statement.
The ministry attributes the improvement to the launch of the Integrated Management System for Rural Fires. According to data released by the ministry, the government had invested greater in combatting rural fires before 2017 but now 50 percent of the budget available is invested in fire prevention.
"The total investment more than doubled compared to the 2017 level," now reaching 500 million euros (551.8 million U.S. dollars), the MAAC said. ■