Eco-Wolf Trail – Station K – Gondomar Church (11/16)

At this station, you will pass through an area with plantations of an exotic tree grown for forestry production: eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus). This fast-growing tree, native to Australia, is now a prominent feature of the landscape in northwestern Portugal. It was introduced in the country for forestry exploitation, mainly for use in pulp and paper production and timber.

Eucalyptus adapts easily to different soils and climates. However, this adaptability and its widespread proliferation are associated with several environmental impacts. Some of the negative aspects linked to this species include high water consumption; foliage rich in oils that contaminate watercourses and soils; the slow decomposition of its leaves, which contributes to soil acidification and dryness, making it less fertile for other crops; a high risk of wildfires; and low levels of associated biodiversity.

At this station, and at other points along the trail, there are small eucalyptus stands, some of them recently planted, which show low plant species diversity and, consequently, poor shelter conditions for wildlife, including the wolf and its natural prey (e.g. wild boar, roe deer, and red deer).

If you observe your surroundings, you may notice a clear difference in fauna and flora diversity, as well as in air humidity and temperature conditions, between eucalyptus production forests and natural woodlands dominated by oak (see Station B – “Oak Woodland”).

Learn more: Mapa do Percurso e Projeto Trilho Eco-Lobo