Beyond the forest-centric bias: rethinking extensive pine plantations in mediterranean landscapes

This contribution examines the significant ecological consequences of extensive pine afforestation in the western Iberian Peninsula since the mid-20th century. While initially established for economic purposes and watershed protection, these plantations—primarily of Pinus pinaster —have fundamentally altered the natural landscape and introduced unforeseen environmental risks. We highlight a forest-centric management bias that has systematically undervalued open ecosystems, such as the Mediterranean heathland, often mischaracterizing them as degraded stages of forest. Evidence demonstrates that replacing open habitats with dense pine stands has increased soil erosion, reduced water availability, and diminished biodiversity, including endemic flora and pollinator fauna. Furthermore, the high flammability and landscape-scale continuity of pine plantations, combined with the spontaneous post-fire expansion of P. pinaster cultivars, have facilitated the emergence of "megafires". While natural P. pinaster forests remain of high conservation value, contemporary plantations require separate management strategies. We advocate for a broader shift in environmental education to recognize the intrinsic value of open ecosystems and a move toward landscape restoration that favours resilient Mediterranean mosaics over homogenous tree stands.