El cork oak It is a highly requested raw material that is used in different sectors. This natural material is the basis for making stoppers for wine bottles, for making thermal and acoustic insulation, for creating shoe soles, in the field of crafts and leather goods, and even for making fishing buoys.
Its great advantage is that it can be obtained in a very sustainable way. If the process is done correctly, no damage is caused to the tree, which can continue its life cycle normally. Do you want to know how it is done? Let's see it!
Process to remove the cork from the cork oak
The first thing we must keep in mind is that not just any cork oak can be used to obtain cork. It must be a tree that has already matured, and it must be done carefully so that this living being is not damaged during the process. In a simplified way, these are the steps to take.
- Pick a mature tree. As we said before, the cork from the cork oak can only be obtained from trees that are already mature, which is around 25 years old. Therefore, before starting work, the trees must be selected and cleared on them, which is a circular mark that delimits the area in which the extraction is going to be carried out.
- Make incisions. In the next step, the specialist makes a series of vertical incisions on the trunk within that circular mark that was made earlier. To carry out this work, specific tools are required that allow working on the bark without damaging the trunk more than is strictly necessary.
- Extraction of the cork sheet. Once the incisions have been made, a tool known as a mallet is used to loosen the cork sheets from the bark.
- Treatment. The sheets then go through a curing and drying process to remove any moisture they may have. Afterwards, they are classified based on their quality and sold to industries of different types.
Obtaining cork from the cork oak is relatively easy, and a sustainable activity if the tree is allowed to mature and then recover long enough. In the traditional style extraction (which turns out to be the most careful and respectful with the environment), the trees are left to mature for more than two decades and, once the extraction is done, the tree does not go through the process again for between nine and 12 years.
Environmental benefits of extracting cork from the cork oak
This activity has been carried out for hundreds of years, and is one of the most sustainable when it comes to extracting raw materials from trees. In the specific case of extracting cork from the cork oak, this has the following environmental advantages.
Forest conservation
The trees are not felled, quite the contrary, we try to make them live as long as possible so that they continue producing cork. This promotes the conservation of cork oak forests, which play an important role in preventing desertification and, in addition, harbor a great biodiversity within them, because they are home to many birds and small mammals.
carbon capture
The cork oak is a species with a great capacity to absorb carbon from the atmosphere, so it is a great ally in the fight against climate change. Obtaining the cork does not cause significant damage to the tree, so it can continue with its function of cleanliness of the atmosphere for a long time.
Promotes sustainable forest management
It is one of the few forestry practices that can be described as sustainable from its origin. Obtaining cork from cork oaks implies taking good care of them so that they last for many years and continue to produce. This avoid overexploitation and gives rise to a more sustainable management of the natural space.
Fire prevention
Cork is a highly flammable material. When removing it from the trees, the possibility of this product ending up in the ground and becoming combustible is reduced in case of a fire.
In addition to its advantages from an environmental point of view, cork extraction also has positive effects on an economic level. Why is it still a source of work and income in rural communities.
Cork oak care and maintenance after cork extraction
So that the tree does not suffer damage and can be a new source of cork in the future, after extracting it, a series of precautions must be taken to guarantee its good health.
- Wound protection. The cut area can become a gateway for insects and infections. What is usually done to minimize this risk is to apply a fungicide-based healing paste. This covers the wound and prevents infection.
- Irrigation and nutrition. Although it is not a serious damage, the extraction of the cork from the cork oak weakens the state of the tree. Therefore, in the months following the intervention, it is necessary to apply special care. It is recommended to apply fertilizer to ensure that the tree gets all the nutrients it needs, so it will recover much sooner.
- Prevention of pests and diseases. Despite having protected the wound, a cork tree that has had its cork removed is in a vulnerable position. The ideal in these cases is to monitor for several months to ensure that there are no signs of pests or diseases. If so, you have to act as soon as possible.
- Weed control. As we have said, in the months following this process, the tree needs more water and nutrients. Eliminating the weeds that grow around it will prevent it from having to compete with other species for access to the hydration and nutrition it needs.
- Pruning. After obtaining the cork, it is advisable to prune the tree to remove dead or diseased branches. This improves air circulation and sunlight reception, speeding up the recovery process.
Extracting the cork from the cork oak is simple and sustainable, but it requires being especially careful when it comes to achieving the complete recovery of the tree. Did you know this process?