This picture shows traces of a forest fire in Madeira and is a synonym for forest fires in Portugal that have occurred more and more frequently in recent years. Often caused by the planting of monocultures.

Around a quarter of the Portuguese forest consists of eucalyptus trees. They grow quickly and promise brisk profits. Together with the widespread pine trees, they are rich in resin and highly combustible. They are also far apart and very light. This allows the soil to dry out quickly which accelerates erosion.
Eucalyptus is needed for cellulose extraction and paper production. These are important sources of foreign exchange for Portugal. Pine trees are also processed into paper and wood. You can also make money with pine nuts. The pine trees are specially trimmed for easy harvest. However this way they donate less shade and the risk of fire increases.