Chapter 4 - The cork oak

Abstract

The cork oak (Quercus suber L.) is an evergreen oak that is characterized by the presence of a conspicuous thick and furrowed bark with a continuous layer of cork in its outer part. This cork bark gives the cork oak its economic importance as a cork producer and its ornamental value in parks and urban areas around the world. The cork oak spreads in the western Mediterranean areas of southern Europe and North Africa, mostly integrating multifunctional agro-forestry systems usually combining the production of cork with cattle grazing, hunting, and other non-wood productions. Given the regions where they are distributed, the cork oak forests are also valued for their ecological role to contain desertification and soil erosion, and for their contribution to biodiversity maintenance. The distribution, botanical and ecological aspects of the cork oak are summarized in this chapter with general reviews for the species. The tree growth is analyzed in relation to its within-the-year rhythm and the between-the-year variation, namely in relation to tree age and climatic factors. The silvicultural practices that are applied to the cork oak stands are explained in relation to the phases of establishment, juvenile and mature stages, and a description of the cork oak dense forests and of the agro-forestry cork oak systems are presented.