Portugal - Forestry

With about 40% of the total land area forested, Portugal is an important producer of forestry products. The country is the world's leading producer of cork, ordinarily supplying about half the world output. Portugal is also an important producer of resin and turpentine. Roundwood production in 2000 was 9,450,000 cu m (333.6 million cu ft), with a sawn wood output of 1,427,000 cu m (50.4 million cu ft). Other commodities produced that year included wood pulp, 1,774,000 tons; paper and paperboard, 1,290,000 tons; and particleboard, 762,000 cu m (2.7 million cu ft). In 2000, timber and other forest product exports amounted to $1,284 million. Wine stoppers account for 55% of cork export value. Cork demand has fallen in recent years, and production is limited by the botanical fact that a single tree can only be stripped once every nine years. Eucalyptus logs (the crux of the pulp industry) are exported as well; forestation of eucalyptus is a major national controversy, with opponents charging that it displaces traditional farmers and damages the soil and water table. Pine accounts for most lumber exports.