António Bento Gonçalves

The recurrence interval of forest fires in Cabeço da Vaca (Cabreira Mountain-northwest of Portugal)

The recurrence of forest fires is degrading an important part of the Portuguese natural heritage namely its forest and soils. In this paper we present the case study of Cabeço da Vaca (Cabreira Mountain-northwest Portugal), where in recent decades, particularly in the 70s, there was a significant increase in the number of forest fires and in the areas scorched annually. There is thus a turning point between a period when fire was an integral part of the ecosystems and when fire has become a serious threat to woodland management and development (Bento Gonçalves, 2006). Starting with a thorough characterization of forest fires and based on the mapping of scorched areas between 1990 and 2006, we have proceeded to identify the annual pattern of maximum recurrence and the definition of the return interval in Cabeço da Vaca, producing thus a valuable document to support management and forestry development in general.

Risco de incêndio florestal em áreas de interface urbano-rural: o exemplo do Ave

Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) show different characteristics in Portugal, making it difficult to define and identify, as well as accurate strategies of prevention, protection and forest fire fighting.Considering Ave region as case study, between the years of 2001 and 2007, we have proceeded to the analysis and identification of territories corresponding to the WUI areas, using INE (National Statistic Institute) typology.

Incidência regional dos incêndios florestais em Portugal: tendências de evolução no período de 1980-2012

In this work we aim to analyze the spatial distribution and to detect trends in the density of ignitions and in the percentage of burnt areas, for the period 1980-2012, at district level. Concerning to the density of ignitions, the results obtained show a significant positive trend for all the territorial units, when Pearson and Spearman coefficients were applied. As regards to the mean annual percentages of surface incinerated, the results are much more discrepant. With positive trends (p-value 0,05).

A desestruturação do mundo rural em áreas de montanha e o risco de incêndio: o caso da Serra da Cabreira (Vieira do Minho)

EnglishThe destructuring of rural areas, particularly in mountain areas, led to a sharp increase in the number of forest fires as well as of the areas burned, and Cabreira Mountain it is an excellent example of this reality. portuguesA desestruturacao do mundo rural, em particular em areas de montanha, levou a um forte incremento do numero de deflagracoes de incendios florestais, bem como da respectiva area ardida, constituindo a serra da Cabreira um excelente exemplo dessa realidade.

Manifestação do risco de incêndio florestal, causas e investigação criminal

Analyzing the number of accused and condemned by forest fire crime and crossing it with the registers of the same crime made by the authorities, even having in account the information lack and it reduced quality, we verify the existence of some problems concerning the research of the causes or the criminal investigation.