Print PageMediterranean cork oak savannas are ecosystems shaped by human use found only in southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa. These ecosystems support high levels of biodiversity but require active human management to ensure their continued existence. The most important product of these savannas is cork, a non-timber forest product that is periodically harvested without requiring tree felling, globally used for wine bottle stoppers. Market devaluation of, and lower demand for, cork are causing a decline in management, or even abandonment, of southwestern Europe’s cork oak savannas. Subsequent shrub encroachment reduces biodiversity and degrades the services provided by these ecosystems. In contrast, poverty-driven overuse is degrading cork oak savannas in northwestern Africa.
How can these socio–ecological systems – which are inherently dependent on human use – be conserved? Can novel economic incentives be employed to promote their sustainable use and maintain their conservation value?
Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes such as those driven by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification or Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) could produce novel economic incentives to promote sustainable use and conservation of Mediterranean cork oak savanna ecosystems in both Europe and Africa.
Results/Conclusions
Application of FSC certification to the management of cork oak savannas in Portugal, Italy, and Spain is progressing, with 56 000 ha certified thus far, and is under development in Morocco and Tunisia. Additionally several cork companies worldwide have certified their chains of custody with the FSC standard. This implies industry compliance in the use of cork originating from FSC-certified forests which is increasing the demand for FSC certified cork. Added market value of FSC certified cork can provide financial incentives for the responsible management of cork oak savannas. Additionally REDD+ could potentially be used for large scale restoration of northwest African cork oak savannas.
Cork oak savannas are human-shaped ecosystems with high conservation value which can only be maintained through sustainable use based on market viability. Well-designed PES schemes, such as FSC- certification or REDD+, could promote sustainable use, conservation and large-scale restoration of southern and northern Mediterranean cork oak savannas.
