Portugal: Napa Eco-Winery addresses cork oak plight
Cork oak forestry requires an open canopy of mature trees and because
the trees are long lived and the loggers aren’t
allowed to cut ’em down the landscape that surrounds ’em are much less
developed. The fact that species diversity is greatest in Cultivated
Cork Oak forests says more about how damaged the rest of Portugal’s
landscape is than how healthy Cork Oak landscapes are. Translation:
Cork oaks weren’t cut down by generation after generation of loggers
consuming a declining volume of forest over time. And I trust as
eco-awareness grows we’ll do more for Portugal’s forest ecology than
just saving the means by which we “Stick a cork in it!” http://forestpolicyresearch.com
NAPA — Stepping up its commitment to sustainability, Cuvaison Estate
Wines today announced it will support the replanting of cork oak
forests in threatened habitats in Portugal. Cuvaison said it will work
with ReCORK America and its corporate sponsor, Amorim of Portugal, to
plant up to 1,000 trees by April 30, 2009.
During the same period,
ReCORK is calling on consumers to recycle used wine corks at 26
participating Whole Foods Markets in Northern California. Consumers
can also turn in corks at Cuvaison’s tasting rooms in Calistoga and
the Carneros District in Napa Valley. “Cork oak replanting provides
tangible environmental benefits, but just as importantly it teaches
people inside and outside our industry about the important role cork
oak forests — and natural corks — play in the ecosystem.” Cork oak
forests are noted for their remarkable biodiversity — according to
the World Wildlife Fund, plant diversity can reach 135 species per
square meter. In addition, cork oak landscapes store carbon, reducing
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, a phenomenon heightened as the
trees grow especially vigorously in their early years. Unlike plastic
or metal screwcap closures, natural cork is ideal for reuse. It can
easily be recycled and turned into flooring tile, building insulation,
shoe soles, fishing rod handles, bulletin boards and even soil
conditioner. “After joining in to support ReCORK on recycling corks,
Jay Schuppert and Cuvaison Estate Wines were looking for additional
ways to grow this effort,” said ReCORK Program Manager, Roger Archey.
“And when you think about it, replanting cork oak forests — where the
process begins — is the perfect bookend to our efforts to extend the
life of these natural products.” Cuvaison is a leader in winery
sustainability. The winery is member of the California Sustainable
Winegrowing Alliance, was an inaugural participant in the Napa Valley
Vintners’ Napa Green program, and is a certified Bay Area Green
Business. More information about Cuvaison is available at:
http://www.terlatowines.com/wines/california/cuvaison/ and
http://www.cuvaison.com.
— Posted to http://forestpolicyresearch.com via gmail to posterous and
also to forestpolicyresearch@yahoogroups.com