The Catalan Cork Institute Foundation and the Plant-for-the-Planet Spain Foundation sign a collaboration agreement that marks a milestone in the promotion and conservation of cork in the country.

This alliance seeks to raise awareness in society about the importance of cork forests, a key ecosystem for biodiversity, the fight against climate change and depopulation, through the FUTURECORK project, which has the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, and future joint initiatives.

ICSuro, as a foundation dedicated to promoting the cork value chain, and Plant-for-the-Planet Spain, an organization recognized for its work in environmental education and reforestation, will launch educational, informative and awareness-raising actions to highlight the positive impact of cork forests in mitigating climate change and the ecological transition.

Joan J. Puig, president of the Catalan Cork Institute, stated: “Society is in a situation of continuous change, increasingly dizzying: digitalization, AI, accelerated climate emergency, etc., and at this time, I believe that it is even more important to return to the roots, to what can truly generate positive change and the cork sector is an excellent example. Promoting the use of cork is synonymous with taking care of forests and all the services they provide us: biodiversity, erosion control, carbon fixation, environmental education, the fight against depopulation, fire minimization, landscape…

Unfortunately, I do not think we are aware of the wealth that the cork sector brings to our country and, for this reason, I believe it is essential to have the support of Plant-for-the-Planet to help us disseminate all these benefits."

The FUTURECORK Project: Example of Innovation and Sustainability

This collaboration is part of the FUTURECORK project, which has the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU. FUTURECORK has as its main objectives:

•  Fostering resilience to Climate Change: combat and anticipate the effects of climate change and achieve sustainable cork production and its value chain.
• Increase production and productivity in the cork sector: implement innovative forestry management plans.
• Promote the use of cork: diversify the cork sector by making use of the sector's by-products.
• Promote professionalization and rural entrepreneurship in the cork sector: generate job opportunities in the cork sector and revitalize rural areas.
• Conserve biodiversity: protect cork oak ecosystems and raise awareness of their importance as natural capital and provider of ecosystem services.
• Communicate and raise awareness: publicize cork as a natural resource of biological origin.

Alliance actions

Through this alliance, various initiatives will be developed, such as the incorporation of educational content on cork into the programs of the Plant-for-the-Planet Forest Action Lab. In addition, training academies will be held in Catalonia, Andalusia and Extremadura, aimed at young people interested in sustainability and entrepreneurship.

As the director of the Plant-for-the-Planet Spain Foundation explains, Jordi Juanós, “Our mission is to restore forest ecosystems, with a priority focus on cork forests. We do this by actively involving young people, boys and girls, from the communities close to these ecosystems, encouraging them to understand their importance, learn to protect them and value them as an essential resource for their future. By conserving, managing and restoring these spaces appropriately, we not only improve the quality of life and health of those who live near them, but we also ensure their legacy as an invaluable natural heritage for future generations.”

Both entities will explore the possibility of carrying out future educational projects that strengthen the knowledge and value of cork within society. This agreement also includes the development of communication campaigns that promote the relevance of cork as a key resource in the ecological transition.

The Importance of Suredas

Cork forests in Spain, which cover more than 1.4 million hectares, play a fundamental role in environmental conservation. These ecosystems not only host a unique biodiversity, but also act as a carbon sink, regulate water and protect the soil from erosion.

However, these valuable forests face threats such as fires, pests and competition from less sustainable materials. The alliance between ICSuro and Plant-for-the-Planet seeks to combat these challenges through education and awareness-raising among new generations.

This agreement not only highlights the potential of cork as a sustainable material, but also calls on society to actively get involved in the protection of cork forests.

The collaboration between both institutions reinforces the commitment of Catalonia and Spain in the fight for a more sustainable future.