Ecologists have denounced that there is a serious problem in Spain with Eucalyptus, because the expansion of these plantations of this type of tree went hand in hand.
«Forest plans are not satisfied and some economic interests play for ignoring Eucalyptus plantation. And this causes some serious problems, “says these environmental defense organizations.
The most common, eucalyptus globulus usually comes into competition with the rest of native plant species in the area where it was planted and this makes it little by little The composition of the soil, of water, from biodiversity changing …This is just one of the serious consequences.
So what is the problem with Eucalyptus?
Eucalyptus is a great tree. Well, there are really many: There are more than 600 different species of the genus Eucalyptus, mentioned by the Linneo Naturalist in the 19th century. They are all a fascinating sample of the adaptation of plant life to the weather and the ground of our planet Earth.
There are many species eucalyptus Otherwise, but when they come from the distant Australian continent, there are only a few on the peninsula. For several centuries they have been planted in parks and gardens, as a decorative tree, but also in the mountain to use them as a railway naughty or ajes to “chase” (a verb in danger, by the way …) the galleries of the mines, that is, strengthened and held walls and roofs and deafers and avoided the place the miners did not sink.
On the Iberian peninsula, although there are only a few species, eucalyptus globulus (known as white eucalyptus) is the most common. This tree can be more than 30 meters high and its plantations are necessary and very useful: the wood makes it possible to produce high quality paper to large wooden beams for the bats that support the strings where the mussels are raised in the Baixas estuaria.
Although their plantations are far from the houses, they are therefore part of the cultural and economic landscape. Just like potato or tomato, it is a non -living species that is integrated into the landscape and daily day. But how can you see The expansion can have consequences.
The problem arises when the expansion of this eucalyptus plantations has gotten out of hand. Forest plans are not satisfied and some economic interests play for ignoring eucalyptus plantation. And this causes some serious problems.
The first: some eucalyptus species, and passes to Eucalyptus Globulus, it is relatively easy to get out where it was planted, please travel. It has a great reproductive strategy and often the fires prefer their journey to nearby areas than to others … and ultimately naturalize. Because he is also gifted, Competence with the rest of the indigenous species and, little by little, the composition of the soil, of water, of biodiversity … of biodiversity … changes … Anyway, he is not a good companion for biodiversity. Eucalyptus Globulus Mola, but when you escape from the plantations, it’s cool.
The lack of political action
Another problem is the existing taboo within Spanish forest management to tackle the problem. A few years ago (last time in 2017), the Scientific flora and wildlife committee He found that these trees should be classified as ‘invading exotic species’. But given the enormous economic and social relevance of Eucalyptus, the forest administration did not take a political decision on science, False the debate and hiding the proof of the effect on the biodiversity of naturalized eucalyptus in the various areas under the carpet.
Not wanted or known that they stop this expansion of eucalyptus plantations and their effects on fauna and flora have led some of our most valuable landscapes to have eucalyptized or, as they also say, they have the evil of ‘eucalyptosis’.
From the Miño River, on the border with neighboring Portugal, to the territory of Bizkaia, an extensive surface covered by our beloved Eucalyptus Globulus forms a bow that floods the Baixas Rías, the coast of a Coruña, Middest’s Middes and the Middle Berg and the Middle Berg and the Middle Berg and the Middle Berg and the Middle Berg and the Middias and the Middle Berg and the Middias and the Middle Berg and the Middle Berg and the Middle Berg and the Middle Berg and the Middle Berg and the Middias In Asturias and the Middenberg in Asturias and the Middenberg in Asturias and the Middenberg in Asturias and the Middenberg in Asturias and the Middenberg in the middle of Bizkaia. Like an oil slick. Moreover, the Eucalyptus Globulus cousin, which is called Eucalyptus Nitens, is more rude and better tolerates the cold, so they plant it in inner areas.
Total, there are eucalyptus through the mountains in the north and northwest, in the Bierzo (León), Las Merindades (Burgos), etc., and will continue to spread where they want to take it. Remember, “eucalyptosis” …
In fact, an important part of the protected natural spaces in the current Eucalyptus distribution area contains eucalyptu plantages and, also, naturalized eucalyptus. There are 7,840 hectares of eucalyptus in the protected natural spaces of Galicia, Asturia, Cantabria and the Basque Country. It occurs, for example, in the nature park of the Fragas del Río Eume, in Galicia, or in the Urdaibai Biosphere reserve, in Euskadi.
As if that wasn’t enough, the threat of building a new cellulose factory, the Portuguese paperwork of the Portuguese Papelera Altri, appeared on the horizon. Although there are already enough companies in Galicia, Asturia, Basque Country or Aragon that produce cellulose from Eucalyptus Wood, the Xunta de Galicia wants to build a different each year, which every year needs 1.2 million cubic meter Eucalyptus wood. But once between the complete performance it consumes double, 2.28 mm³/year. Where does all that eucalyptus wood come from?
The eucalyptization of the territory is a problem and therefore it is necessary to stop its expansion by extending the current Moratoriums to the new Eucalyptus plantations.
So much even, for the problem of eucalyptus, that this conflict of the expansion of plantations has taken serious dyes, to the point that The inhabitants of Portugal founded a moratorium in 2017 on the new Eucalyptus plantations that extend until 2030. The same thing was done in Galicia in 2021, but only until the end of this year, 2025. And, finally, in Bizkaia, from 2022 to the end of 2025.
In that sense, they believe that the mited with courage and imagination should reopen the debate about the impact of Eucalyptus outside the plantations. And start by taking the eucalyptus of protected natural spaces through the national nature recovery plan. Ecoticia.com