Awful to see the crime against Cork Oak!
Cork oak is found through southwestern Europe and into northwestern Africa in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. Portugal, which is home to the largest collection of cork oak trees, is also the world leader in cork production. Cork oaks are found in forest mosaics alongside other tree species, including a variety of other oaks, stone and maritime pines, and even wild olive trees. These lands are home to a great diversity of species. Plant diversity is higher here than in many other forest regions of the world, with almost 135 different plant species per square meter. The diversity extends to animal life, including some critically endangered species such as the Iberian lynx, Barbary deer and Iberian imperial eagle.
The cork oak faces many threats such as fire, deforestation, agricultural expansion, disease and climate change. Another threat: increased demand for alternative wine stoppers. As the market for cork decreases, fewer cork oak landscapes will be conserved and the species will be placed at greater risk.
