I am just starting writing on this blog. I am not sure if I will make it often, we will see. As I am a forester I have chosen to start the first post with a photo of trees. Portugal has major Atlantic and Mediterranean influences and this picture shows a Mediterranean open forest where species like holm and cork oaks predominate. This type of forest if often managed as an agro-forestry system where forest is grown with livestock or some extensive agricultural crops. In Portugal Mediterranean area, recently, another native species has been increasing in distribution: the stone pine. This species is highly adapted to the summer droughts and is very interesting due to the high value from its pine nuts.