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PS Challenges Albuquerque to Approve Shepherding Proposal to Prevent Fires

Madeira GuideMadeira Guide
August 26, 2026
4 min read

The PS-Madeira urges President Miguel Albuquerque to adopt a shepherding proposal for effective wildfire prevention, highlighting previous governmental inconsistencies.

The PS-Madeira has issued a challenge to Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Regional Government, urging him to approve their proposal for revising the silvopastoral regime. This proposal is aimed at integrating directed shepherding as a strategic tool for wildfire prevention on Madeira Island.

The call from the socialists came after Albuquerque himself advocated for regulated shepherding as a means to prevent forest fires, a stance that the PS claims contradicts the government's previous dismissals of such measures. The PS notes that the government has long rejected shepherding as a viable land management and fire prevention strategy, despite its repeated proposals in the Legislative Assembly being overturned by the ruling PSD/CDS coalition.

Inconsistencies and Public Distrust

According to the PS, Albuquerque's recent statements reveal an inconsistency in the government's approach to forest management, which they argue is marked by years of inefficient strategies and unfulfilled promises. SĂ­lvia Silva, a PS deputy, criticized the government for its alleged misuse of public funds in ineffective land clearing projects and for failing to deliver tangible results.

The people of Madeira are tired of empty promises that fail to address their issues," Silva stated, highlighting the ongoing mismanagement and propaganda efforts by the government to mask their failures.

The PS-Madeira is pressing for the adoption of their silvopastoral proposal, which seeks to utilize directed grazing as a permanent solution to prevent the return of invasive species and enhance fire prevention efforts in the island's forested areas.

The Role of Silvopastoral Systems

Silvopastoral systems involve the strategic use of grazing livestock to manage vegetation growth, reducing the risk of wildfires by maintaining open and less combustible landscapes. This method is seen as a sustainable alternative to mechanical land clearing, which the PS argues has been costly and ineffective.

The socialists are calling on Albuquerque to demonstrate his commitment to effective forest management by embracing their proposal, which they believe will lead to more efficient use of resources and better protection for Madeira's natural environment.

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Madeira Guide

Madeira Guide

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