Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

Synthetic corks damage cork oaks

2003/02/14 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

Cork oaks have been exploited for thousands of years for cork extraction. The largest cork forests in the world are in Spain, Portugal, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, France and Tunisia, and cork industries help to keep these forests in good condition. In fact, during the extraction of the cork the trees are very well cared for, for example, a space of nine years is left for a tree to be peeled and removed.

Lately the cork oaks are worse than before, especially because the peasants leave the forests to go to the city. In addition, agriculture and livestock are increasingly widespread in cork oaks, while cork extraction is becoming smaller.

According to the environmental group WWF/Adena, the use of synthetic corks is harmful to cork oaks. For the conservation of these forests, it proposes to consumers the purchase of bottles with natural cork, thus favoring the cork industry and avoiding the exploitation of cork oaks.

Cork oaks are very rich. They are the habitat of endangered species such as the solar eagle or the Iberian lynx. According to WWF/Adena, the disappearance of cornocales can be a death sentence for these species and would be detrimental to many others.

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