Miguel Freitas, PS deputy elected by the Algarve, defended this Thursday, at the Assembly of the Republic, the creation of a program of public funds, from national and community funds, to support productive forests and enhance forest-environmental services.
As part of his speech, in which he praised the consecration of the cork oak as the National Tree of Portugal, the socialist parliamentarian considered that, despite this important initiative that brought together the consensus of all parties, there is still much to be done.
"A stable regulatory framework is needed, now that the Forest Code has been revoked, and the sense of systematization and legislative unity cannot be lost", said Miguel Freitas, defending, along with the public funds program, the application of a "tax system fairer, given the long payback period associated with the investment in the forest”.
Considering that the forest should be constituted as a national purpose, the deputy and regional leader of the PS underlined the importance of the Draft Resolution for the classification of the cork oak as a National Tree of Portugal.
"The cork oak is the essence of a fundamental ecosystem for the conservation of biodiversity and endangered species, and for this reason, the cork oak forest is one of the habitats priorities in Europe”, noted Miguel Freitas.
The deputy also highlighted that, in addition to its contribution to preventing desertification and consequent depopulation and disordering of the territory, the cork oak is also cork, the only product that makes Portugal a world leader, with about half of global production.
“From now on, felling cork oaks is no longer just felling protected trees, it is felling a national symbol”, stressed Miguel Freitas, for whom this parliamentary initiative represents “an act that dignifies and enhances the responsibility of the Assembly of the Republic towards the Portuguese in the demand for the best legislative solutions for the forest sector”.
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