Following news from the Lusa agency that two associations linked to eucalyptus and paper production are advocating the expansion of this species as a way to reduce fire risk, Milvoz – Nature Protection and Conservation Association cannot but express its most vehement disagreement with that position. Eucalyptus is a fast-growing exotic species, pyrophytic and a flame propagator, whose plantations have extremely negative impacts in terms of biodiversity, the preservation of landscape and cultural identity, and the conservation of essential resources such as water and soil. These are problems that simply do not arise with mature native forest formations, which are frequently and mistakenly seen as lacking economic viability.
