Small-scale producers in southern Portugal are currently affected by extreme forest fires and the damage these cause. In the Monchique Mountains -the so-called 'lungs of the Algarve'- whole orchards and vegetable fields have burnt down and an area of about 24,000 hectares (or 33,000 football fields) was damaged.
And these forest fires are not only due to climate change, but also to the eucalyptus tree monoculture, which is continuously expanding. This is stated by Matthias Kästner, Managing Director of POIS Portugal, who works directly with small farmers in the Algarve.
A citrus producer of the POIS project in the Algarve
Source: Zoya Damaskina (l) and Nabela Gaspar
Kiwi & citrus plants
Normally, farmers in the Algarve are experiencing their season peaks at this time of year, as many vegetable crops are then ready for harvest while the fruit growers take care of their kiwis, grapefruit and lemons for the upcoming winter season. Whether they can still be harvested this year is a big question for many farmers now. The most extreme forest fires of the last 15 years, are raging through the cultivation areas. "The recent fires have damaged four of our growers, especially in the kiwi and citrus areas. Our most important producer of pink grapefruit has been seriously affected. In addition to grapefruit, he cultivates oranges, lemons, pomegranates and limes on around 4 hectares, explains Mr Kästner, who has had close contacts with local producers for about 5 years.
Extreme weather
The magnitude of the damage is still difficult to assess as almost all satellite and cell towers in the Monchique Mountains have burned down and it is therefore difficult to keep contact with Portugal. In any case, it is clear to Mr Kästner that the extreme fluctuations in temperature and the annual forest fires are a major threat to local, small-scale cultivation. "It has been extremely dry in Portugal since last fall, all they way into February. Early March there were heavy monsoon-like rains and intense cold, so the fruits did not ripen in time. Usually, Portuguese apricots, peaches and nectarines are earlier than fruits from Greece and Italy. However, this year everything came on the market at the same time. For example, we got figs and apricots three weeks later than normal. Then again there was this extreme heat of up to 48 degrees."
An orchard in the Monchique mountains - the so-called lungs of the Algarve
Source: POIS
Monoculture problem
Apart from the extreme weather, there is another reason why the production of fruit and vegetables in the area is becoming increasingly difficult. Over the years, large tracts of Eucalyptus trees for the paper industry were planted, on behalf of the EU. "Because the soil in the areas with Eucalyptus trees is drained, water there naturally drains off very quickly and everything dries up quickly in this heat. The forest fires are thus clearly a problem of monoculture."
Monoculture problem
Apart from the extreme weather, there is another reason why the production of fruit and vegetables in the area is becoming increasingly difficult. Over the years, large tracts of Eucalyptus trees for the paper industry were planted, on behalf of the EU. "Because the soil in the areas with Eucalyptus trees is drained, water there naturally drains off very quickly and everything dries up quickly in this heat. The forest fires are thus clearly a problem of monoculture."
Untreated fruits and manufactories
POIS - Natürlich Portugal has been offering its customers a wide selection of fruits and vegetables straight from Portuguese fields for about 5 years. Trademarks of the project are the colorful boxes of untreated fresh produce as well as fair trade and direct relationships with 107 smallholders. The company currently has two locations in Winnenden and Stuttgart: from November to May, customers can still pick up their orders every 5 weeks at 40 locations in southern Germany. At the same time, the product portfolio is being expanded: the next expansion is the marketing of the ginger of a growing company in the western Algarve.
For more information:
POIS – Natürlich Portugal