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CLOSURES

he
d
Investment has continued under the birds and 24 species of reptiles and
t
e
er
t
nd
current PDR 2020. amphibians.
In addition to their relevance as a a Cork oak forests are very eco-
nce as
cork in-
source of raw material for the cork in- logical important by helping to
mportant
m
po
n
t
dustry, the montados have important control erosion, regulate the water
ta
r
environmental functions, in regula- cycle and combat desertification and
regula-
ting the water cycle, in soil conserva- global warming. The cork oak forest
nserva-
tion, as carbon sinks, and as a sup- can retain 14,000,000 tons of CO2
a sup-
nomic
port for biodiversity. Their economic each year.
ance
and environmental importance In 2011 the cork oak was instituted
justifies that, in addition to the by Assembly of the Republic “National
he
general regulation of the natio- o- Tree of Portugal“.
nal forest, cork oak is subject to
to
ed
specific legislation, established
by Decree-Law No. 169/2001. THE PORTUGAL BUSINESS
FABRIC OF THE CORK SECTOR
M
E
BIODIVERSITY ECOSYSTEM Cork is the fundamental business
AND SUSTAINABILITY of numerous commercial and industrial
no
t
os
Cork is renowned for its most no-- companies in Portugal. There are more
ble role, as the world leader in wine than 300 companies engaged in the cork
n wine
ars in
storage. Throughout the years, in trade, with a strong focus on the Alentejo
cork growing regions, cork has been central region, where the cork oak forests are predo-
to a culture that has been passed down from minantly located. Most of these companies are
generation to generation. An idea that is as re- quite small, with total employment in the se-
levant today as it was when it began centuries ctor only around 600 people. Industrial com-
panies are considerably more numerous and
larger. Currently, there are about 850 active
industrial companies. These are strongly con-
centrated in the north of Portugal, where al-
most all the cork stopper manufacturers are
located and most of those that produce other
products in cork.
HOW THE CORK STOPPERS ARE
PRODUCED?
Cork oaks are first harvested at 25 years old,
and take place every 9 years. After the third
harvest, the bark is of sufficient quality for
producing wine corks. Don´t be afraid, the oak
ago – sustainable development. Its objective trees are not cut down, and only about half of
is the fundamental balance between the en- its bark is removed at any time.
vironment, economic growth and social deve- The bark is carefully peeled away and cut
lopment. into sheets before processing.
One of the 35 “hotspots” of the biodiversity, After a period of rest, the cork planks are rea-
(on the same level as the Amazon and Borneo) dy for the first stage of the industrial process:
with 37 Species of mammals, 160 Species of the boiling. Raw cork is boiled for at least one
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