Eco-Wolf Trail – Station D – Gondomar Church (4/16)

At this station (as well as at Station L), you will encounter an extensive and dense scrubland dominated by broom species (Genista sp. and Cytisus sp.), located in an area of communal land.

Brooms belong to the legume family and are widely distributed species capable of thriving in poor, acidic soils, particularly in areas frequently affected by wildfires. In this area, they reach an unusually tall height, sometimes up to around three meters.

Unlike the oak woodland observed at the previous station (Station C), broom scrublands have lower biodiversity, as the vegetation monotony dominated by broom limits the availability of food and light. Even so, dense broom thickets provide important shelter for the wolf and other species that find refuge in this thick vegetation. However, the accumulation of large amounts of plant biomass represents a high fire risk due to its high flammability.

After a fire, broom plays an essential role as a pioneer species, allowing rapid regeneration of burned areas and helping to reduce soil erosion and the effects of extreme temperatures. However, when forming very dense stands, it can hinder the growth of other plant species, thus perpetuating broom dominance in the landscape.

Historically, broom branches were widely used, for example as firewood or in the manufacture of tools such as brooms, representing an important testimony to the dependence on and use of natural resources by local communities.

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