The composition is nearly one-half of pine (Pinus maritima and pinea), one-fifth, cork oak “with pastures,” a little over one-fifth, other evergreen oaks “with pastures,” and the balance, chestnut and deciduous oaks.
The fact of the extensive private ownership and the reference to the pastures in the enumeration of forest areas suffice to give an idea of the condition of most of them. The oak forest is also to a large extent still used for hog raising.
Besides the native forest areas, there are in existence a number of parks and plantations of exotics, the climate of Portugal in parts resembling that of California and permitting a wide range of introductions, even tropical. There is perhaps nowhere such a good opportunity of seeing the most varied forest flora in fine development as the forest parks of Montserrate, of Bussaco, and in the various botanical gardens.
Extensive Eucalyptus and Acacia plantations, some 1500 acres, of high economical value, near Abrantés, are the enterprise of a private landowner, W. C. Tait.
The deficiency of wood supplies is covered by an importation of about 1.5 million dollars against which there is an export of a little over half a million, mainly cooperage stock. The best developed forest industry is the growing of cork giving rise to an export of around 5 million dollars. A considerable naval store production is also developed.
The first attempt at a real management of the State’s property dates from 1868; a regular organization, however, did not take place until 1872, when, under the Director-General of Commerce and Industries, a forest administrator with a technical staff of three division chiefs, corresponding to the three sections of country, and six forestmasters were installed.
At present, the staff of the Inspector consists of 8 technically educated assistants, each in charge of some branch of service. Under these, there are a number of field agents or supervisors (some 14 in 1903) with less education, and underforesters and guards.
The only really well managed forest, the pride of the Portuguese foresters, is the forest of Leiria in Estremadura, a planted pinery of about 25,000 acres, on which over 50 men of various grades are employed, with naval store distilleries, impregnating works, and saw mills. Its management (in natural seed tree system) dates from 1892.
Besides attending to the management of the State forests, a committee composed of the administrator and some of the technical staff, were to examine the country and decide what parts needed reforestation. As a result of a very full report, in 1882, a reboisement law was enacted under which some of the sand dunes were fixed.