PS deputy Sílvia Sousa Silva questioned the effectiveness of forest firefighters in Madeira in preventing rural fires, comparing the region's figures with the directed grazing strategy used in Gran Canaria.
According to the Madeiran Executive, forest firefighters worked on approximately 45 hectares in eight months, a result the deputy considers small given the island's forest area. In contrast, Gran Canaria's "Gran Canaria Mosaico" program uses herds to reduce combustible vegetation, covering 2,481 hectares in a year.
The deputy advocates for a similar model in Madeira, reviving a previous party proposal, and criticizes the reliance on mechanical clearing, deemed more expensive and less efficient alone. The issue reignites the political debate on diversifying fire prevention mechanisms and economically valuing rural communities.
