Sever do Vouga - location
Sever do Vouga is a town and a municipality in the district of Aveiro, in the centre of Portugal.
Wildfires in Sever - a disaster we cannot forget
The burnt area in Portugal last year was three times superior to the average burnt area in the country in the last decade. According to the “Instituto de Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas,” 103,137 hectares were burnt in the country until the 15th of August.
The district of Aveiro was the most affected with 41, 569 hectares burnt, about 40% of the total area burnt in the country.
The “Estabilização de Emergência: Incêndio Florestal de Sever do Vouga” report shows us that in Sever do Vouga 566, 20 hectares were burnt this year.
Since the 1st of January to the 12th of July 2016, 101 thousand hectares of forest were burnt, which equals 101 thousand football fields. This amount of burnt forest in Portugal shows us that Portugal, alone, is responsible for half of the burnt area in all of the EU state members this year.
Wildfires bring several consequences besides the loss of Earth´s lungs and the emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere.
There are economic consequences like human patrimony loss,such as houses, farm fields or even cattle. These inflict fear and trauma to the people who are around the wildfire, and sometimes the loss of memories in case of a burnt home.
One of the members of our group felt the consequences of one of the wildfires in the area where he lives and he said:
“I went to see the wildfire at night, because it was near the area where I live. When we arrived near the wildfire, everything was foggy because of the smoke. Some people were in the street with masks on the face, watching the fire and talking. At night all we could see was the yellow light of the fire and we could hear the voices of some people and of the firemen that were fighting the wildfire. Sparkles fell around us, and one of them started a fire near a house. Many people that were in the street started to run to fight the small fire. For that they used branches.”
Below there are pictures of the wildfire taken by one of the members of our group. It was not very far from his house.
The district of Aveiro was the most affected with 41, 569 hectares burnt, about 40% of the total area burnt in the country.
The “Estabilização de Emergência: Incêndio Florestal de Sever do Vouga” report shows us that in Sever do Vouga 566, 20 hectares were burnt this year.
Since the 1st of January to the 12th of July 2016, 101 thousand hectares of forest were burnt, which equals 101 thousand football fields. This amount of burnt forest in Portugal shows us that Portugal, alone, is responsible for half of the burnt area in all of the EU state members this year.
Wildfires bring several consequences besides the loss of Earth´s lungs and the emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere.
There are economic consequences like human patrimony loss,such as houses, farm fields or even cattle. These inflict fear and trauma to the people who are around the wildfire, and sometimes the loss of memories in case of a burnt home.
One of the members of our group felt the consequences of one of the wildfires in the area where he lives and he said:
“I went to see the wildfire at night, because it was near the area where I live. When we arrived near the wildfire, everything was foggy because of the smoke. Some people were in the street with masks on the face, watching the fire and talking. At night all we could see was the yellow light of the fire and we could hear the voices of some people and of the firemen that were fighting the wildfire. Sparkles fell around us, and one of them started a fire near a house. Many people that were in the street started to run to fight the small fire. For that they used branches.”
Below there are pictures of the wildfire taken by one of the members of our group. It was not very far from his house.
Burnt areas in Serra do Arestal, Sever do Vouga:
Work done by Francisco Amaral, João Carvalho, Mariana Corgas, Marcelo Coutinho Pedro Jorge and Tiago Martins, 11th C+D
Sever do Vouga - The capital of the blueberry
Sever do Vouga has been promoted as the capital of the blueberry. The quality of the blueberries grown in Sever do Vouga is internationally recognised.
The blueberries attract many people to this small town every summer, in July, when "The Blueberry Festival" is held. Those who visit us are not only looking for the fruit, they are also eager to buy some of the exquisite products that are locally produced: