Eucalyptus has received a lot of bad press in Portugal. It is non-native and burns quickly in forest fires.
Nevertheless, eucalyptus composes roughly 25% of forests across the country, contributing nearly 3 billion euros to annual GDP and tens of thousands of jobs in paper exports.
Recently, some environmentalists have begun reversing course, touting benefits of Eucalyptus previously unknown or ignored.
For example, eucalyptus composes the largest CO2-capturing force in all of Portugal— over 50% of carbon capture coming from eucalyptus forests alone. It posseses an impressive oxygen-producing capacity— over three times higher than native cork oak forests.
More praises? It’s being grown strategically around the world to remove the stagnant water that supports mosquito populations (hence fighting malaria). It is used to cleanse wastewater, naturally filtering out heavy metals and bacteria to improve crop water quality.
It grows more quickly than bamboo, making it superior for flooring and furniture (a relatively new use trajectory), as well as offering superior resistance to water rot and insects.
Its powerful “cineole” compound has been used for centuries in both Ayurvedic medicine and Western hospitals. It’s a hospital disinfectant, a respiratory infection cure, and a topical skin wound medication.
On the less practical side, it has an ardent following for its beauty in flower arrangements (especially for its juvenile, silvery, coin-shaped leaves— and sometimes for its longer, greener, mature leaves).
In the Phillipines, the so-called “Rainbow Eucalyptus” features a bright, multi-colored bark. But for me, Portugal’s common species (the Blue Gum Eucalyptus) offers a much lovelier beauty. The freshest leaves display soft orange and pink tones, as well as a dreamy kind of translucence when viewed in front of a sunset, (Next to this, the Rainbow Eucalyptus looks downright garish.)
I opted for soft focus to amplify their ethereal quality. This photo fills me with gratitude for evocative beauty found in humble places.
Eucalyptus has received a lot of bad press in Portugal. It is non-native and burns quickly in forest fires.
Nevertheless, eucalyptus composes roughly 25% of forests across the country, contributing nearly 3 billion euros to annual GDP and tens of thousands of jobs in paper exports.
Recently, some environmentalists have begun reversing course, touting benefits of Eucalyptus previously unknown or ignored.
For example, eucalyptus composes the largest CO2-capturing force in all of Portugal— over 50% of carbon capture coming from eucalyptus forests alone. It posseses an impressive oxygen-producing capacity— over three times higher than native cork oak forests.
More praises? It’s being grown strategically around the world to remove the stagnant water that supports mosquito populations (hence fighting malaria). It is used to cleanse wastewater, naturally filtering out heavy metals and bacteria to improve crop water quality.
It grows more quickly than bamboo, making it superior for flooring and furniture (a relatively new use trajectory), as well as offering superior resistance to water rot and insects.
Its powerful “cineole” compound has been used for centuries in both Ayurvedic medicine and Western hospitals. It’s a hospital disinfectant, a respiratory infection cure, and a topical skin wound medication.
On the less practical side, it has an ardent following for its beauty in flower arrangements (especially for its juvenile, silvery, coin-shaped leaves— and sometimes for its longer, greener, mature leaves).
In the Phillipines, the so-called “Rainbow Eucalyptus” features a bright, multi-colored bark. But for me, Portugal’s common species (the Blue Gum Eucalyptus) offers a much lovelier beauty. The freshest leaves display soft orange and pink tones, as well as a dreamy kind of translucence when viewed in front of a sunset, (Next to this, the Rainbow Eucalyptus looks downright garish.)
I opted for soft focus to amplify their ethereal quality. This photo fills me with gratitude for evocative beauty found in humble places.
