The Performance of the Forestry Sector and Its Relevance for the Portuguese Economy

Abstract

The industries that comprise the forestry sector have an unquestionable importance for the Portuguese economy, through the creation of value added and the generation employment, not only for the large amount of actors involved in the production, processing and marketing of its products, but also due to its role in the settlement of populations in more disadvantaged regions. Forests, an endogenous and renewable natural resource, with a considerable territorial spread, remain a means of regional distribution of wealth in Portugal. This paper contextualizes the economic importance of the forestry sector over time, adopting an encompassing view of territorial occupation, production, regional specialization of employment, productivity and concentration.