The 20th-century reforestation efforts in Spain and France were driven by economic needs (timber, pulp) and soil stabilization, leading to the widespread planting of specific fast-growing species that created highly flammable monocultures.
The Eucalyptus globulus (Blue Gum) was heavily planted in Spain, particularly in Galicia (northwest), starting in the late 19th century but exploding in the 20th century under the Franco regime to supply the pulp and paper industry (e.g., the state company ENCE).
These trees contain highly flammable oils and shed bark that acts as tinder. In Galicia, which holds over 60% of Spain's eucalypt plantations, wildfires are significantly more frequent and intense. The species also consumes vast amounts of water, drying out the surrounding soil.
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