A free technical advisory service will be available to farmers and forest landowners with a view to identifying opportunities for the adoption of the best management practices in cork oak forest management and its associated biodiversity.
This measure is sponsored and funded by CORTICEIRA AMORIM, within the scope of the Business & Biodiversity initiative and an agreement entered into by the National Forest Authority, the ICNB (Institute for Conservation of Nature and Biodiversity), QUERCUS and the WWF.
This service is aimed at implementing a diagnostic study to enable the identification of opportunities to incorporate best practice measures into the enhancement of the value and sustainability of the cork oak and its associated biodiversity.
The relaunch in 2010 builds on the success of the two previous editions in 2008 and 2009. Over this period of time, 25 cork oak plantations and about 8,000 ha of cork oak forest were covered by this initiative. These figures show that this initiative met with a very positive reception and a remarkable adherence.
Any organization responsible for the management of cork oak forests in Portugal can benefit from this service. Applications must be submitted over 2010 by completing the application form. The rules governing the provision of this service are also available on this website.
The diagnosis will be based on visits made to selected cork oak plantations. The field work will be the responsibility of specialized technicians; in 2010 this task will be carried out by WWF members.
The now disclosed advisory service to be provided to forest producers is one of the initiatives of CORTICEIRA AMORIM designed to support the International Year of Biodiversity which is being celebrated in 2010. It is, therefore, a particularly important year to enhance the characteristics of the cork and the ecosystem that it enables to exist - the cork oak forest - which is the basis of one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots in the world.
Did you know ...?
Considered one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots in the world - and the only one in Europe - the cork oak forest is habitat to 135 species of plants, over 160 species of birds, 37 species of mammals and 24 species of reptiles and amphibians. Cork oak landscapes contribute to the survival of many species of fauna and to safeguard the environment.
An unique natural landscape, the cork oak forest is a natural treasure that provides invaluable environmental services: soil protection, regulation of the hydrologic cycle, carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation.
