Branco, Amélia2025-04-042025-04-042010Branco, Amélia .(2010). “Was the Portuguese Forest Policy a contribution towards economic modernization? The case of the Paper Pulp Industry during the Estado Novo (1930-1974)”. Revista de Historia Industrial, Nº 44: pp. 69-96.1132-7200 (print)http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/100013In the period following the Second World War, Portugal witnessed a take-off in modern economic growth. The paper pulp industry was one of a group of new industries that underpinned the process of industrial modernization. The productive process of this industry relies on a forest-based renewable raw material: wood. This paper aims to demonstrate that the forest policies of the Estado Novo (New State) contributed to the development of the paper pulp industry through the expansion of the forested area in Portugal. It will be shown that the expansion of the forested area occupied by a fast-growing species - Eucalyptus - as well as that occupied by a species already present in Portuguese forests –Pinus pinaster – was fundamental for the development of the paper pulp industry. Furthermore, a change in the composition of Portuguese forests enabled the pulp industry to respond to a national and international market featuring growing demand. As such, the Portuguese forest showed a positive response to this demand for a raw material from a new sector in Portugal’s industrial structure, and, in doing so, did not hinder economic growth.engForest PolicyPaper Pulp IndustryEstado Novo (New State)Modern Economic GrowthPortugaljournal article2385-3247 (electronic)