WHAT ARE THE OPINIONS OF FORESTERS IN PORTUGAL REGARDING FIRE? RESULTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE.

Portugal has a problem with forest wildfires. Through out the years, the number of fires and area burned has increased. Forest engineers are one of the professional groups most involved in the prevention of wildfires, not only in the field of preventive silviculture but also in the area of rural extension. Some of the objectives of this work are to know the opinions of these foresters regarding: The major threats to the Portuguese forests; What should be done to prevent wildfires in Portugal. Adequacy of Prevention/detection/extinction of wildfires in Portugal; On what situation fire can be used as a working tool and who should be allowed to use it; To achieve these objectives, a questionnaire was sent by post to more than 600 technicians that work in the forest sector, and that include in their work fire prevention, and/or forest protection and management and/or professional training. These technicians belong to Forestry associations, Municipalities, Ministry of Agriculture (includes forest services) and Ministry of Environment (includes natural areas with the status of nature conservation). The response rate was 39 % (246 responses). In the opinion of these technicians all the aspects of wildfire are not dealt with in a proper way in prevention (96 % of answers), detection (56,9%) and extinction (84,9%). Fire should be used as a working tool especially on fuel management, however, only forest fire-brigades (82%), forest technicians (80%) and fire-fighters (60%) should be allowed to use it. A discussion is provided on the reasons justifying these opinions