Eucalyptus plantations in Galicia, Spain, now cover around 500,000 hectares—twice the 250,000-hectare target set for 2030—after decades of unchecked expansion. Originally introduced in the 1970s and promoted for their value to the pulp and timber industries, the fast-growing Australian trees have spread rapidly across northwestern Spain and other regions including Brazil, Chile, California, India and South Africa. Globally, eucalyptus plantations span 22 million hectares in over 90 countries, generating significant rural income, with Galician plantations alone earning €167 million in 2024. However, scientists warn the trees are highly flammable due to oil-rich leaves and bark that can carry burning embers over long distances, as seen in Australia's 2009 Black Saturday fires when embers traveled more than 30 kilometers ahead of fire fronts. Tim Curran of Lincoln University in New Zealand stated that introducing eucalyptus changes fire regimes, increasing intensity and frequency. In Galicia, the trees mature in 15 years compared to over 80 for native oak and chestnut, allowing them to dominate post-fire landscapes and expand monocultures. The regional government imposed a moratorium on new plantations, but enforcement is inconsistent and illegal planting continues. Luisa Piñeiro, Galicia's director general of forest management, acknowledged past failures, emphasizing the need for better forest planning and species diversity. Community leader Joam Evans Pim, working to replace eucalyptus with native trees in Froxán, said land abandonment and invasive growth have accelerated the spread. Last year, over one million hectares burned across Europe, much of it on the Iberian Peninsula, amid early and intense heatwaves.
The doubling of eucalyptus plantations in Galicia beyond planned limits shows how economic incentives have overridden ecological safeguards. The same trees generating €167 million for the region also amplify wildfire intensity, creating a cycle where fires clear land only for eucalyptus to reclaim it faster than native species. No African or Nigerian connection is indicated in the expansion or management of these plantations. The failure to enforce the moratorium reveals a pattern of reactive policy in the face of preventable environmental risk.
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