The Tree Thieves
Two pines stood beneath the sky,
One slightly leaning, one reaching high.
Between them flowed the wind and light,
Leaving room for thriving life.For every tree has more to give
Than timber, bark, or shade.
And humbly stand for years on end,
Whilst improving the world they made.
There are certain things you expect to consider when purchasing a rural property in Portugal.
Planning permissions.
Boundary lines.
Access roads.
Water supplies.
Access to electricity.
Waste disposal.
But most people never imagine they may need to worry about their trees.
Yet over the years, I have witnessed several situations that have left owners shocked, heartbroken, and wondering how such things could happen.
One case involved a client who owned a beautiful estate filled with mature umbrella pines. Like many responsible landowners, she wished to clear selected trees and undergrowth to improve the health of the land and reduce fire risk.
Every tree to be removed had been carefully identified.
The instructions were clear.
As she lived abroad, she was unable to be present when the work took place.
The contractor completed the work, submitted the invoice, and was paid.
Several weeks later she arrived to inspect the property.
Instead of finding a healthier landscape, she found a different one.
More than eighty additional trees had been cut.
Trees that had taken decades to grow.
Trees that provided shade, habitat, character, and beauty.
The estate no longer felt like the place she had fallen in love with.
She stood among the stumps and cried.
Years earlier, I experienced something similar myself.
A parcel of land I owned required clearing. Arrangements had been made and work scheduled.
By chance, I decided to visit on the morning the work was due to begin.
What I found was alarming.
More than thirty mature umbrella pines had already been felled.
Had I arrived later, many more would almost certainly have followed.
The work stopped immediately.
The damage, however, had already been done.
These experiences taught me an important lesson.
Looking after the land is not simply about ownership.
It is about stewardship.
Healthy forests require management. Dead wood must sometimes be removed.
Overcrowded growth may need thinning. Responsible maintenance allows the land to breathe and helps reduce fire risk.
But there is a profound difference between careful management and unnecessary destruction.
A mature cork oak or umbrella pine cannot be replaced within a season.
Many have stood on the land for generations.
They shelter wildlife.
They cool the landscape.
They stabilise the soil.
They quietly capture carbon while asking for very little in return.
When one falls naturally, it is part of nature’s cycle.
When dozens disappear unnecessarily, something far more valuable than timber is lost.
For owners of rural estates, my advice is simple.
Never assume instructions alone are enough.
Whenever tree work is undertaken, ensure that a trusted representative is present throughout the process.
The cost of supervision is insignificant compared to the loss of mature trees that may take fifty, seventy, or even one hundred years to replace.
The Alentejo Coast remains one of Europe’s most beautiful natural landscapes because previous generations protected what they inherited.
Our responsibility is to do the same.
Plant more trees.
Protect the healthy ones.
Question unnecessary felling.
And remember that true wealth is not measured by what can be taken from the land, but by what remains for those who come after us.
Because once a mature tree is gone, a lifetime often disappears with it.
Practical Advice: Always have a trusted representative present during any tree clearing, forestry, or land maintenance works. Mark trees clearly, photograph the site beforehand, and verify the work before final payment.
June 2026.
Ronald Wayne
Notes From The Coast & Real Estate
Previous – Meet some of Alentejo’s most unexpected woodland neighbours and learn why they belong here.
NFTC Hub – Return to all our Notes From The Coast.
Next – A thoughtful reminder that forests provide far more than timber alone.
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