This year, till three days ago, registers 27 per cent less rural fires and 70 per cent less burned area in Portugal, compared to the average annual level of the past decade, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Action (MAAC) said.
So far, this year has recorded the third smallest number of fires and the fourth fewest burned area compared with the same period since 2013, the MAAC said on Sunday in a statement.
The Ministry attributes the improvement to the launch of the Integrated Management System for Rural Fires, Xinhua news agency reported.
According to data released by the Ministry, the government had invested greater in combatting rural fires before 2017 but now 50 per cent of the budget available is invested in fire prevention.
"The total investment more than doubled compared to the 2017 level," now reaching 500 million euros ($551.8 million), the MAAC added.
Air quality in Delhi remains 'very poor' amid cold wave
According to the Air Quality Early Warning System For Delhi, the air quality is likely to be in the Poor category from January 20 to 21. While for the next six days, the air quality is likely to be in the 'Very Poor' to 'Poor' category.
Dense fog engulfs Delhi-NCR, 41 trains delayed
Dense fog blanketed Delhi-NCR on Sunday, leading to significant disruptions in train schedules across multiple routes and challenging travel conditions for commuters.
Dense fog in Delhi-NCR parts, train services disrupted
Delhi's air quality saw a significant improvement on Friday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 294, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). However, the national capital and surrounding cities continued to witness dense fog, which caused delays in train services.
GRAP IV restrictions reimposed in Delhi-NCR as pollution levels surge
The CAQM had, on January 12, revoked Stage-3 restrictions after the AQI in Delhi improved due to rainfall. Stage-IV restrictions include a ban on all construction activities, the entry of non-essential polluting trucks into Delhi, and the mandatory shift of school classes, except for classes 10 and 12, to hybrid mode.
Madhya Pradesh to translocate 14 tigers to Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Odisha
The big cats will be transferred from tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh's Bandhavgarh, Panna, Kanha, and Pench. The tigers and tigresses will be translocated under the supervision of an authorised veterinarian.
Large wildfire in Southern California scorches nearly 4,000 acres
The large wildfire in Malibu in Southern California continues to burn and it has reached nearly 4,000 acres, according to the city authorities of Malibu.
Fresh snowfall in mountains, chilly winds lash J&K
Fresh snowfall occurred in higher reaches of Jammu & Kashmir as both minimum and maximum temperatures dropped further on Monday due to chilly winds sweeping across from snow-clad mountain tops.
In first in many decades, Shimla sees season’s first snowfall in early December
In a first in many decades, the Himachal Pradesh capital and its nearby tourist resorts on Sunday evening experienced the season’s first snowfall in early December, with the hospitality industry eyeing a surge of tourists.