Cork Oak Forest

Cork oak forests (which in Portuguese are called montados) occupy an area estimated to be over 2.1 million hectares in the Western Mediterranean basin. Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Algeria jointly harbour over 90% of the distribution area for the species. Every year, approximately 200 thousand tonnes of cork are extracted from these cork oak forests. Portugal, which has one-third of the overall area of oak trees, is the world’s largest cork producer. The country is also responsible for approximately 50% of cork processing in the world.

The cork sector assumes an especially important role in economic, social and environmental terms in Portugal, where the cork oak tree is the National Tree and occupies 22% of the country’s forest area.