Cork oak forests: a fragile ecosystem that must be protected.

Adapted to the hot climate and dry sandy-clay soils of the Mediterranean Basin, the cork oak is a very resilient tree species however it is increasingly suffering from the impacts of global warming in the Mediterranean region. This inevitable climate change and the progressive neglect of difficult and barely profitable forestry operations may jeopardize the current sourcing of cork in the coming century. Preventive measures to protect this resource are necessary and cultural agronomic models must consider all these factors.

Diam Bouchage financially supports not only undergrowth clearing operations, and revitalization of these abandoned plots to avoid the risk of fire destroying the crop resources but also replanting operations. In May 2023, Diam Bouchage decided to go even further by contributing its technical know-how and capacity for innovation to the forest.

Diam Bouchage has launched a research project to ensure the future of cork oak forests.

In partnership with Ferticork, an agroforestry company, the French cork closure manufacturer has created an experimental plantation in Extremadura, near to its Spanish factory.

With the aim of reviving interest in cork-oak forestry, Diam Bouchage, alongside a team of Spanish agronomists, has embarked on promoting a model for growing cork oak trees using mineral additions and water input or also called controlled fertigation. The latter monitors tree growth during the first 40 years and allows to reduce the time between each harvest, thus ensuring better agricultural income.

“The Alpalante project, named after the plot of land, means that our company is a primary stakeholder in preserving cork oak forests. The project has the necessary equipment to monitor the growth and behavior of over 10,000 cork-oak saplings in the new context of global warming. We will be able to understand and establish the hygrometric and mineral conditions necessary to protect the trees and maintain economic viability for forest owners,” Explains very enthusiastically  Dominique Tourneix, CEO of Diam Bouchage

This unique infrastructure, powered by solar energy, covers about ten hectares and encompasses 7 plots with different interventions and tree densities (inter-row spacing of 3 and 4 m). Each plot is carefully monitored through sensors that measure growth, sap flow, soil humidity and climate conditions (measuring rain, wind, humidity, etc.). This information enables water input to be accurately measured and used without any waste: 6 times less water is required compared to the needs of a classic tree plantation.

The data duly registered will serve for future plantations’ modeling management in order to obtain cork oak forests that are not only more resistant to climate change but are also economically viable.  Results demonstrate that it will be possible to halve cork bark regeneration time by supporting the plant during major climate events (extreme heat).

A forestry experiment that favors the “carbon sink” effect.

These fertigated cork oak forests are natural carbon sinks as they participate in the sequestration of CO2, which they transform through photosynthesis. Extension of the model on a large scale will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

By upgrading fallow land and burnt forests, the process preserves and enriches the soil so that it becomes a haven for plant and animal biodiversity.
Following this first experiment, Diam Bouchage anticipates extending this process to other areas in the west of the Mediterranean Basin.

The company Diam Bouchage.

It is with the greatest respect for winemaking know-how that Diam Bouchage has created technological cork closures that have, for over 20 years, revolutionized maturation in the bottle and aging of both still and sparkling wines.

The reliability of the DIAMANT® process, which ensures that cork is totally cleaned* using supercritical CO2 under differentiated pressure, is unique and still unrivaled. Its faultless effectiveness has been demonstrated with nearly 2 billion closures being sold every year.

Diam Bouchage has made technological choices that enable the winemaker to have a personalized approach with regard to the period wines are kept in the bottle as well as oxygen transfers, while guaranteeing perfect consistency from one bottle to another. A new tradition that now makes corking the bottle a genuine winemaking act

Diam Bouchage’s history, experience and expertise make it the go-to company by setting standards of trust and reliability in the technological cork closure market. Diam reaffirms what it has always been: the authentic guardian of aromas.

“We are proud of the part we play in enhancing the winemakers’ know-how and contributing to the pleasure of their customers by constantly supporting this new tradition that we hold dear to our heart. A lasting balance between understanding the past and embracing the challenges of the future, between innovation and tradition, while always maintaining the greatest respect for nature and humankind.” Dominique Tourneix, CEO, Diam Bouchage

Clearing plots, protecting forests, promoting French cork, certified low carbon plantations: Diam Bouchage has, for many years, been involved in the revitalization of cork oak forests in order to safeguard access to its raw material and ensure this material’s long-term preservation.
Diam Bouchage, a trailblazer in the closure sector for its commitment to a global Quality and Environment policy, has been measuring its environmental impact since 2007 through its carbon footprint assessment. Today Diam Bouchage has pledged to reduce its carbon footprint by signing up to the W2DS (Well below 2 degrees) trajectory defined in the international Science Based Target Initiative (SBTI).
 

*TCA ≤ the quantification limit of 0.3 ng/l

More information about cork oak forests and Diam Bouchage’s actions is available on several videos: 
https://youtu.be/bi78rzAoTS8?si=xM0LNvEYu-AcIx6e
https://youtu.be/TQt2wF-rgsM?si=Amld0CA6eHiMrv38 https://youtu.be/ElUMN0ijT2c?si=uwtlS6udTY-4d9CP
https://www.diam-cork.com/sites/default/files/2024-07/2309-cp-environnement-en.pdf
https://www.diam-cork.com/en/our-commitments-rse#foret