Isn’t cork endangered?
Cork cannot be endangered if it is being utilized. The cork oak tree is different from other trees in its harvesting – the cork is peeled by hand. Peeling the bark helps the tree to live to 200 years or more. Once peeled the bark grows back in 7 to 9 years ready to be harvested again. Cork is truly a renewable material and its harvesting has a minimal carbon footprint. Cork will be endangered if we discontinue using it. The non-utilization of cork makes it less valuable and therefore the forests less valuable. If the forests are less valuable they maybe cut down to make way for more profitable agriculture or even to plant trees used for paper. The cork forest is home to many endangered animals and is a truly diverse and unique ecosystem. To remove the forest would remove the economy of many towns and cities, not to mention the permanent removal of unique animals. To read more about the forest please visit the World Wildlife Foundation. We must also remember that as a tree the cork oak
