Born on April 4, 2022, the “Sugherete del Golfo” Forest Consortium aims to enhance the value of cork oak in Lower Cilento. Until the 1960s, cork oak forests played an important role in the local economy, forming the basis of a thriving cork industry. Over time, however, and with the introduction of new materials, attention towards this resource declined, leading to the disintegration of properties and a state of abandonment. Today, this situation threatens the presence of this species in our territory.
The cork oak is a plant of significant ecological importance, as it contributes to the biodiversity of local forest ecosystems, providing an ideal habitat for numerous species of flora and fauna. Generally, these plants act as “sponges” because, through photosynthesis, they can absorb carbon dioxide (one of the main gases contributing to climate change), which they degrade to obtain the carbon necessary to form their tissues. In the case of the cork oak, this “sponge” function is even greater because it is not a tree periodically cut for firewood, so CO2 continues to be stored in its woody tissues.
But that’s not all. Being an evergreen, the continuous canopy cover on the ground helps to better contain erosive phenomena.
How can we prevent all this from disappearing along with our cork oaks? First of all, we started by gathering 43 members—41 private and 2 public—who own land hosting cork oaks. The total consortium area amounts to 641 hectares, including 64 cork oak forests, with a total of 7,653 specimens. The path forward is one of participatory and collective management of this heritage, based on principles of sustainability and aimed at recovery, protection, and valorization of the cork oak forests.
Alongside this, we are also carrying out activities related to local awareness and information, as well as research, in order to increase perception and interest in this valuable resource.