REN and the protection of the forest from wildfires

To Prevent, to warn and to act, this is REN's commitment to the defense of the forest against fires and against the figures that indicate that an annual average of 140,000 ha burn in more than 22,000 fires (WWF data - Word Wide Found for Nature 2019). 

Because 'We are all called to defend the forest's heritage!', this video reports the important work that REN - Redes Energéticas Nacionais undertakes and has been undertaking, together with ANEPC, ICNF and the municipalities where electricity lines and pipelines are installed under the National Electricity Transmission Network and the National Natural Gas Transport Network concessions, for the defense of the forest against rural fires. 

Some data on REN's fire prevention and firefighting work 

REN has almost 10,000 kilometers of energy transmission corridors, and about 60% of them are located in the forest. It is responsible for clearing more than 21,000 hectares (ha) of forest throughout the country and in the past five years has cleared more than 39,000 ha nationwide. 

Since 2010, more than 1 million trees have been planted on about 3,000 hectares, replacing fast-growing species with native species that are more resistant to the risk of fire. 

These conversions covered more than 17 thousand owners, who have the possibility of obtaining some income from land that were often abandoned, further promoting the increase of biodiversity. 

At the end of 2020, 14% of the forest area crossed by REN's electricity grid was subject to these land use reconversion projects. The company's goal is to reach 30% in 2030. 

 In this prevention work, in 2020 alone, more than 31,000 owners were contacted. 

 During Fire Season, REN has in operation 6 Teams EPV- Prevention and Surveillance Teams, 24/7. 

Together with the University of Coimbra, REN coordinates Risk Management in the rePLANT project, which brings together companies and academies in forest defense.