So far, the fires have affected 5,116 hectares, 139 ha of which are Laurissilva.
During a press conference at the auditorium at Campo da Barca, Manuel Filipe, President of the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation confirmed that 32% of the burnt area was just scrubland.
Furthermore, Manuel Filipe confirms that the Institute already has plants waiting to be planted in the affected areas when the conditions are right. He went on to assure all those present that the nests of the Friar of Madeira were not affected.
However, 200 farmers have been affected by the recent fires.
Although assessors and technicians from the Regional Directorate of Agriculture have been out into the field the losses are still being accounted for.
Forty-one animal farms have been affected with one having over 100 animals. Unfortuantely, 24 goats and 1 cow died in the fires that started in Serra de Água, Ribeira Brava, on the 14th of August.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
