Forest certification
Forest Certification is a guarantee of the future
The certification of forest management is a mechanism that is designed to ensure the sustainable management of forest ecosystems through compliance with management standards that meet environmental and socioeconomic criteria.
The two main forest certification systems are the Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which in Portugal, cover 253 thousand and 350 thousand hectares of forest area, respectively.
In Portugal, the main Associations of Forest Producers in the area of cork oak montado are certified by the FSC system. In Portugal, Spain and Italy around 150 thousand hectares are certified by the FSC system; more than 100 thousand hectares of these are located in Portugal.
Certifica +
The Project Certifica + was set up to raise awareness of the importance of forest certification, and facilitate this process, making it simpler and more accessible. It is a valuable asset for the entire value chain, from the forest to industry, safeguarding the principles of environmental, social and economic sustainability
National and international Environmental Organizations
- The League for the Protection of Nature (LPN) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). Founded in 1948, it is proud to be the oldest environmental association in the Iberian Peninsula. It is a non-profit association with public utility status. Its main objective is to contribute to the conservation of the natural heritage, and
the diversity of species and ecosystems.
- Quercus – National Association for the Conservation of Nature is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) for the Environment. It was founded in 1985 and has been extremely active in Portugal.
- The Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) is a scientific non-profit association that promotes the study and conservation of birds in Portugal.
- SOS Lynx is a non-profit organization that protects the Iberian lynx, one of the inhabitants of cork oak forests most threatened and endangered.
- The RSPB is a British environmental association and non-profit charity that is dedicated to the protection of birds and their natural habitat.
- The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is one of the largest and most respected independent networks for nature conservation. Created 40 years ago, it has five million members and conducts activities in 90 countries. Mission? To stop the destruction of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. Since 1995, the WWF has invested something like 1.165 million dollars in 11,000 projects in 130 countries.
- The Greenpeace is probably the most well-known environmental organization in the world. Also a non-profit organisation, it is present in 40 countries and is proud of its independence from governments and large multinational companies, from which it never accepts donations. Extremely active, its campaigns include those to end whale hunting, or the campaign against climate changes, as well support for the abolition of genetic engineering.
- The NABU is an association with 406 thousand members, 1500 local groups throughout Germany and 25,000 volunteers. It is a non-profit organization aimed at conservation of nature and protection of the environment, focused mainly on birds. The NABU has an initiative called “Korkampagne” to collect cork bottle stoppers in Hamburg.
