100 years ago, wildfires were far less common in Portugal.
Indeed, they have always occurred naturally to some degree, yet back then wildfires were less intense and widespread.
In mid-20th century the average burned area was around 40,000 hectares per year but in recent years this has drastically increased. In 2017 ca 500,000 hectares of forest burned, resulting in tragic loss of lives and property. In 2024, nearly 111,000 hectares were devastated by fire. (Statistics: ICNF, EFFIS, Copernicus)
Throughout the 20th century, the composition of forests changed dramatically, favouring fast-growing but highly flammable eucalyptus and pine plantations.
One possible solution to the wildfire problem is to plant more trees that are less flammable. Native species and other non-invasive, low-flammability species may still burn, but they are less likely to catch fire explosively like “firecrackers.”
Some examples of these species include Mediterranean cypress, fig, strawberry tree, carob, sweet chestnut, olive tree, and cork oak.
On this painting, I have used wildfire ashes, sand, and mica that I collected in Portugal in September this year, as well as water and soil from Madeira.
Name: Specks of love 1 Size: 40×60 cm cm Materials: wood ashes, sand from Portugal, clay, water from levadas and soil from Madeira island, acrylic on canvas, Year: 2024 Frame: Unframed
