Doutora Cristina Soeiro

Doctor Cristina Soeiro – Coordinating Psychologist of the Psychology and Selection Office of the Higher Institute of the Criminal Police and Sciences

The reduction in the problem of fires in a forestry context in Portugal involves multi-disciplinary and integrated intervention involving, in the short term:

1. Penalising risk behaviours demonstrated by the general population;
2. A plan for forestry management – which involves analysing the species of trees that should be planted bearing in mind the different types of land and climate that exist in the country;
3. Clearing the forested areas adequately and at the right time;
4. Working more closely with offenders identified as arsonists who suffer from mental illness – in truth, this type of problem exists in this group of offenders, isolating them during the risk period does not solve the problem as we are facing a mental health problem. So those concerned must be properly diagnosed and treated in accordance with their problem.

In the medium and long term, there is a need to develop a prevention plan which should involve those people who work with the forest so that they develop a protective relationship with it, and invest in the training of children and adolescents as regards their role as citizens with responsibilities for the protection of and respect for forests.