Trees connect atmosphere, soil, water, wildlife and people. They harvest sunlight. They create shade. Their roots explore deep soil. Their leaves and branches become organic matter. They support fungi, insects, birds and mammals. They intercept rainfall and alter the microclimate beneath them.
Trees are far more than agricultural products. They are structural members of the ecosystem.
Cork oak is one of the defining trees of our landscape. A mature cork oak can represent generations of stewardship. The 2018 wildfire taught us that damage to these trees may continue long after the flames disappear. Some trees that initially survived subsequently declined. Others became structurally weakened and eventually fell during high winds. Fire leaves a legacy that can take years to reveal itself.
Eucalyptus already exists extensively within our landscape. Our challenge is therefore not simply to debate whether it should be there. It is to decide how the resource we inherited can be managed responsibly.
A steward does not measure success by how many trees are planted. The better measure is how many are still thriving decades later.