Plants species and techniques used for charcoal production in the Northeast of Portugal

Humanized landscapes are mosaics of great natural and anthropological values. People have been modeling the landscapes, and as closely linked, both evolved together. The forest and the scrublands provided the necessary woody resources for the most diverse human activities. For example, wood for the construction of structures and for the manufacture of objects, wood for lighting, heating and cooking. In this context, communities have developed many strategies to obtain the materials needed for their existence. These strategies, conditioned by regional availability, were also determined by skills and technical capacities as well cultural habits of each community. Charcoal has been following the path of societies since the earliest times, being a major energy product in many processes