Visit to the eucalyptus forests of A Coruña from Queensland (Australia)
At the beginning of July 2024, we had the opportunity to receive Albert Kello, an official of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of the State of Queensland, in Australia, who is responsible for managing the state forests (mostly natural) consisting mainly of eucalyptus and other hardwoods.
He took advantage of a private trip through Galician lands to make a forest visit with the Galician Forestry Association and learn about the Galician eucalyptus forests, which surprised him very favorably, especially for the high percentage of trees with straight trunks and no deformities. "It is as if globulus and nitens species like Galicia and Portugal more than Australia", he commented.
In Queensland, state natural forests are managed by logging every 20 years or so, cutting the largest diameter trees. Clear cutting is not allowed. The managed areas are thousands of hectares. For less than 500, the contractors put obstacles in the way of harvesting. Mr. Kello was surprised that properties of a couple of hectares, or even less, are managed in Galicia.
He also noted the different use of eucalyptus in Galicia, for paper pulp in short shifts, and in Queensland, for sawmills producing timber for housing construction, including floors of high aesthetic value. The predominant species is Corymbia maculata, Corymbia citriodora (Eucalyptus maculata, Eucalyptus citriodora) but they also grow Callitris columellaris, Eucalyptus pilularis, Lophostemon confertus, Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus paniculata, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus microcorys from Syncarpia glomulifera.
Mr. Kello was very grateful for the opportunity to join a visit with the staff and managers of AFG to the eucalyptus forest of A Coruña and for us it was a very pleasant and enriching day.
