The Institute of Nature Conservation reveals that last year so many eucalyptus trees were planted in Portugal that the species now covers more than 80% of Portugal’s forest land.
This is the entirely predictable result of the government being persuaded influenced by the powerful pulp industry lobby.
Even after the devastating and deadly fires at Pedrógão Grande last year, the government’s August 2017 law to prohibit the planting of new eucalyptus forests did not take effect until January 2018, giving adequate time for the industry to ensure trees were planted by their tens of thousands.
Not since 2013 have so many eucalyptus been planted. This indecent rush filled up forestry land before the planting cut-off date in January.
According to the ICNF report, 18,497 hectares of eucalyptus were planted last year, a thousand more than in 2016 and significantly more than in 2014 and 2015.
The numbers - making eucalyptus the dominant species in the country covering 86% of plantations - are even more striking in a year when forests were heavily hit by fires.
As for other species, a lamentable 825 hectares of pine trees were planted in 2017, along with a measly 402 hectares of cork oaks but the main tree was eucalyptus with a staggering 61,000 hectares given over to this thirsty monoculture between 2014 and 2017 – 69% of trees planted.
