One of the things I, truly, miss in some regions of Gêres are forests. With some exceptions, like Mata da Albergaria, you can walk long distances without observing a single mature tree. While trees do not thrive in higher altitudes, the truth is that Gerês was once far more forested that it is nowadays. The exploration of woodlands for building, coal and fire without replanting (sustaining) forests, and, particularly, the devastating fires in the last decades left these mountains deprived of true forests patches. Sometimes, deep in the valleys, especially along streams, you can still see several species of autochthones trees, offering a glimpse of the forests that may have once stood here.
In this trail, I found a young cork tree, isolated in a mountain side. Its organic shape stands out from the rocky landscape. It was alone, truly alone, in the sense that I haven’t seen anything but rocks, bushes and grass for kilometres.
Cork oak / Sobreiro - Quercus suber
Serra do Gerês, Portugal
2017, March
