Government decreed the "prohibition of access, circulation and permanence" in forest areas. Bensaúde Park, in São Domingos de Benfica, has urban gardens in need of water and attention inside.
The São Domingos de Benfica and Benfica parish councils, at least, have decided to close down two of the few green, fresh and shaded spaces in their territoriesThis is due to the extreme heat wave that is sweeping Lisbon and the country these days and the risk of fire. Parque Bensaúde, in São Domingos de Benfica, and Parque Silva Porto, in Benfica, will be closed for at least the next week, the respective Juntas said.
In a statement posted at the entrance to the Park and also shared on social media, the São Domingos de Benfica Parish Council indicated that, "due to the high temperatures being felt throughout the country, and on the advice of the Government, Bensaúde Park is closed until further notice". For its part, the Benfica Parish Council informs us, in a notice posted at the entrance to Silva Porto Park - aka "Mata de Benfica" - that, "due to the alert situation decreed in Order No. 8329-A/2022 due to the high temperatures forecast for the coming days, which determines the prohibition of access, circulation and permanence inside forest spaces, we inform you that Silva Porto Park is closed until July 15 in order to prevent fire risk situations". A medieval fair that was taking place there has been canceled.
In practice, the The government has not ordered the closure of forest areas, only the "prohibition of access, movement and permanence" It is the duty of each individual to act accordingly. In fact Order No. 8329-A/2022of July 7thissued by the Government, determines several measures "of an exceptional nature" due to the heat and the consequent risk of fire, such as the "prohibition of access, circulation and permanence within forest areas, previously defined in municipal forest fire protection plans, as well as on forest paths, rural paths and other roads that cross them"except "the access, movement and stay of permanent or temporary residents and people who carry out professional activities there".
Despite being green areas with different functions, the Bensaúde and Silva Porto parks are forested and, unlike other forested areas in the city, have railings that make it easier to close them. Other forested areas in Lisbon, such as the José Gomes Ferreira Park ("Mata de Alvalade") or the Vale do Silêncio Park, in Olivais, cannot be closed as they are open to the city. This is also the case in the Monsanto Forest Park, where the Lisbon Civil Protection and City Council have imposed "road traffic restrictions" until July 15, in various connections. Only the four main axes of Monsanto will remain passable, namely: Estrada do Penedo (Cruz das Oliveiras - Alcântara axis), Estrada do Alvito (Cruz das Oliveiras - Ajuda axis), Estrada de Monsanto (Cruz das Oliveiras - Pina Manique axis), and Avenida Tenente Martins and Avenida 24 de Janeiro (Cruz das Oliveiras - Estabelecimento Prisional - Benfica axis).
O Lisbon Municipal Forest Fire Defense PlanIn 2019, it established the following city parks as forest spaces:
- Monsanto Forest Park (Ajuda, Alcântara, Belém, Benfica, Campo de Ourique, Campolide, São Domingos de Benfica)
- Tapada das Necessidades (Estrela)
- Tapada da Ajuda (Ajuda, Alcântara)
- Silva Porto Park (Benfica)
- Parque dos Moinhos de Santana (Belém)
- Madre de Deus Park (Olivais)
- Vale do Silencio Park (Olivais)
- Encosta da Calçada de Carriche (Carnide, Lumiar)
- Chelas Central Park (Marvila)
- José Gomes Ferreira Park (Alvalade)
- Vale Fundão Park (Marvila)
- Quinta das Conchas e Lilases (Lumiar)
- Bela Vista Park (Alvalade, Areeiro, Beato, Marvila)
According to the government, the "prohibition of access, movement and permanence" until at least July 15 in these 13 wooded areas of the city, but not their closure. Several people have questioned the São Domingos de Benfica Parish Council on social media about the closure of Bensaúde Park, given that there are agricultural gardens inside that still need watering and attention. The family of André Mota, with whom Lisboa Para Pessoas spoke, has a vegetable garden in Bensaúde Park. "The park has been closed since Saturday afternoon, and I've already contacted the council who told me that access to the gardens will only open again on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning from 7 o'clock. Until then we really can't go and water the gardens and we expect there to be some losses due to the extreme heat and lack of watering."he told us.
At the same time, the government order clarified that the following were still allowed "work associated with feeding and watering animals, phytosanitary treatment or fertilization, watering, pruning, harvesting and transporting agricultural crops, provided that it is of an essential and unavoidable nature and is carried out in irrigated areas or areas devoid of forests, bushes or flammable materials, and from which there is no danger of ignition". In other words, the São Domingos de Benfica Parish Council could not close off access to the agricultural areas of Bensaúde Park.
Several of these Lisbon woodlands are multi-purpose areas - despite being wooded areas, they offer a range of infrastructures for the population, such as large grassy areas for lodging, cafeteria and restaurant facilities, children's and dog parks, urban farming areas, among others. Above all, they are green infrastructures that offer shade and freshness on hot days like these. Lisbon City Council, for its part, has determined the "cancellation of events (of public or private organization)" in these spaces. The municipality is also stepping up surveillance, inspection and patrols of these forest areas and permanently monitoring the risk of rural fires in the city.
Article updated at 14:20 on July 12, 2022.
