Forest characteristics and forest types
Portugal is located in the extreme southwest of the European continent. In North and East Portugal borders with Spain, the only country with which Portugal borders and forms the Iberian Peninsula, and in West and South it borders with the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its small size, Portugal has significant climatic differences due to three factors: latitude, different influences (oceanic in the West, continental in the East) and relief (North more rugged and elevated and the South predominantly peneplain).
For its size, Portugal is one of the European countries with the greatest diversity of organisms and agricultural/forestry systems.
For its size, Portugal is one of the European countries with the greatest diversity of organisms and agricultural/forestry systems.
The diversity of Portuguese forests is big. There are oak forests, pine forests, eucalyptus forests, cork oak forests, sweet chestnuts stands and Laurissilva. Some of the forests are very special – for their history, the amazing landscapes, unique trees, biodiversity or for their educational and scientific value.
The specificity of Portuguese forests is characterized by a strong human intervention during the past centuries.
According to the last National Forest Inventory, the forest area on Portugal (continent and archipelagos) accounts for 39% of the territory, thus, Portugal is the 12th largest forested area in the European Union.
The main tree species are: Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) (28%), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) (23%), Cork oak (Quercus suber) (23%), Holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia) (13%), Oak (Quercus spp) (5%), Stone pine (Pinus pinea) (4%), Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) (1%), other hardwoods (3%) and other softwoods (1%).
Maritime Pine forests
Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster) forests expanded in the early XIX century. This was mainly due to private forest owners initiative although Public Forest Services have also contributed to the afforestation of coastal dunes and common land. The use of this species was to prevent the advance of the dunes and to protect soil from erosion, due to the fact that it is a pioneer species and tolerant to almost all types of soils. Currently, the area covered by maritime pine forests is decreasing and the immediate causes are forest fires and pests. The main function of these stands is the production of wood for industrial uses. Maritime pine forests, mainly of anthropogenic origin, have historical and social value and are an important factor in economic development of rural areas either with commercial purposes, either through a series of complementary activities such as apiculture, pastoralism, game, mushroom production or resin tapping.
The specificity of Portuguese forests is characterized by a strong human intervention during the past centuries.
According to the last National Forest Inventory, the forest area on Portugal (continent and archipelagos) accounts for 39% of the territory, thus, Portugal is the 12th largest forested area in the European Union.
The main tree species are: Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) (28%), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) (23%), Cork oak (Quercus suber) (23%), Holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia) (13%), Oak (Quercus spp) (5%), Stone pine (Pinus pinea) (4%), Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) (1%), other hardwoods (3%) and other softwoods (1%).
Maritime Pine forests
Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster) forests expanded in the early XIX century. This was mainly due to private forest owners initiative although Public Forest Services have also contributed to the afforestation of coastal dunes and common land. The use of this species was to prevent the advance of the dunes and to protect soil from erosion, due to the fact that it is a pioneer species and tolerant to almost all types of soils. Currently, the area covered by maritime pine forests is decreasing and the immediate causes are forest fires and pests. The main function of these stands is the production of wood for industrial uses. Maritime pine forests, mainly of anthropogenic origin, have historical and social value and are an important factor in economic development of rural areas either with commercial purposes, either through a series of complementary activities such as apiculture, pastoralism, game, mushroom production or resin tapping.
Eucalyptus forests
Eucalyptus globulus forests are intensively managed for commercial purposes. The plantations of this fast-growing species are used for paper pulp industry, an industry of great national importance. These forests have a controversial history in Portugal and since the beginning there were objections to its cultivation of an environmental point of view.
Eucalyptus globulus forests are intensively managed for commercial purposes. The plantations of this fast-growing species are used for paper pulp industry, an industry of great national importance. These forests have a controversial history in Portugal and since the beginning there were objections to its cultivation of an environmental point of view.
Although eucalyptus forests in Portugal are widely used in paper products, essential in today's society, there are relatively few people who associate this species and its forest production to paper used in daily basis [8]. The current legislation is very strict on the expansion of eucalyptus and prevents the establishment of large contiguous areas.
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Cork oak forests
Cork oak (Quercus suber) forests, called ‘Montados de Sobro’, are agro forestry semi-artificial systems created by man and have multiple uses. These stands are very important ecosystems in terms of biodiversity and multifunctionality. They are typical of the South landscapes and form the largest area of contiguous native trees in Portugal, representing about 34% of the world area. They host a rich fauna and flora constituting biodiversity hotspots. Considered national heritage, the cork oak forests are legally protected. It is prohibited to cut trees without authorization from the Forest Public Services and its plantation and exploitation is encouraged. In 2011, Quercus suber was considered national tree.
Cork oak (Quercus suber) forests, called ‘Montados de Sobro’, are agro forestry semi-artificial systems created by man and have multiple uses. These stands are very important ecosystems in terms of biodiversity and multifunctionality. They are typical of the South landscapes and form the largest area of contiguous native trees in Portugal, representing about 34% of the world area. They host a rich fauna and flora constituting biodiversity hotspots. Considered national heritage, the cork oak forests are legally protected. It is prohibited to cut trees without authorization from the Forest Public Services and its plantation and exploitation is encouraged. In 2011, Quercus suber was considered national tree.
Holm-oak forests
Holm Oak (Quercus rotundifolia) forests, called ‘Montados de Azinho’, are open structures with agro-forestry-pastoral use, created and maintained by man, which provide a wide variety of products such as acorn, firewood, charcoal and forage material, honey, mushrooms and game. The main product, acorn, is a very important food resource for domestic species such as ‘Alentejan pig’ and game species such as partridges (Alectoris spp), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and deer (Cervus elaphus). |
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Oaks forests
In Portugal there are also other oak forests such as Portuguese oak forests, European oak forests and Pyrenean oak forests.
In Portugal there are also other oak forests such as Portuguese oak forests, European oak forests and Pyrenean oak forests.
Forests of native Portuguese Oak (Quercus faginea), known by ‘Cercais’, have amazing landscape and are extremely rich in biodiversity.
Forests of native European oak (Quercus robur) are mainly found in the North where there is the highest percentage of natural distribution with high ecological, economic and social value. |
Forests of native Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica) provide a multiple use of the forest, soil and water conservation, biodiversity, natural landscape and improvement of the climate, and are an important source of wood and non-wood resources.
Stone Pine forests
Stone pine (Pinus pinea) forests are natural or artificial stands. They have been traditionally used for wood, resin, and, in particular, seed (pinion) production.
Stone pine (Pinus pinea) forests are natural or artificial stands. They have been traditionally used for wood, resin, and, in particular, seed (pinion) production.
They are very common along the Southern coast where we can find the highest percentage of contiguous stands (62% of the total area). In this area 50% of the total pinecone is produced. The vegetation under forest cover, very rich in endemic and rare species, is an important source of biodiversity. For the above reasons coastal stone pine forest is considered a priority habitat by the European Community and is included in the Natura 2000 Network.
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Sweet Chestnut forests
Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) forests used for timber production are called ‘Castinçais’, while forests used for chestnut (fruit) production are called ‘Soutos’. There are more “Soutos” than “Castinçais’. Chestnut forests provide high quality wood (for carpentry, joinery and furniture) and also a large quantity of chestnut (either for human consumption or for animal breeding) contributing to the increased diversity in the composition and structure of forest stands. Chestnut is the main dry fruit produced in Portugal and holds the 3rd place in chestnut production in Europe with an average production of 30.000 tons.
Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) forests used for timber production are called ‘Castinçais’, while forests used for chestnut (fruit) production are called ‘Soutos’. There are more “Soutos” than “Castinçais’. Chestnut forests provide high quality wood (for carpentry, joinery and furniture) and also a large quantity of chestnut (either for human consumption or for animal breeding) contributing to the increased diversity in the composition and structure of forest stands. Chestnut is the main dry fruit produced in Portugal and holds the 3rd place in chestnut production in Europe with an average production of 30.000 tons.
Riparian: formations where the species described above grow as well as species such as Ibero-African shrubby spurge (Securinega tinctoria), Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) and, more rarely, the Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica) or Hazel (Corylus avellana).
Laurissilva forests
Classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, these forests are intermediate formations between durissilvas (short leaf and rigid) and pluvissilvas (rainforests of hot climates). Since humid temperate conditions are rare on Earth today, Laurissilva forests are relict formations found in few habitats, always on the edge of the temperate regions, with major oceanic influences. These forest types are found in the archipelagos of Madeira, where they cover nearly 60% of the land and in Azores.
Laurissilva forests
Classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, these forests are intermediate formations between durissilvas (short leaf and rigid) and pluvissilvas (rainforests of hot climates). Since humid temperate conditions are rare on Earth today, Laurissilva forests are relict formations found in few habitats, always on the edge of the temperate regions, with major oceanic influences. These forest types are found in the archipelagos of Madeira, where they cover nearly 60% of the land and in Azores.