Cork oak – Quercus suber - forest Vamos salvar mais de seis mil sobreiros

Construction of a new prison in Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region, Herdade dos Gagos , Municipality of Almeirim which will occupy more 66Ha of the 288,6 Ha that belong to the Herdade dos Gagos, in a classified and protected area of Montado (cork oak – Quercus suber - forest), considered of particular interest to the conservation of nature, between the villages of Paço dos Negros and Marianos - ALMEIRIM - PORTUGAL

Porque se insiste numa área classificada considerada de particular interesse para a conservação da natureza, como uma área protegida, de interesse comunitário, não sendo permitida a conversão em povoamento de sobreiros? (D.L. 169/2001 de 25 de Maio “estabelece medidas de protecção ao sobreiro e à azinheira” e em que se, justifica-se largamente pela sua importância ambiental e económica, já reconhecida na Lei de Bases da Política Florestal (Lei 33/96, de 17 de Agosto)

Our amazement doesn't arise from learning these news through the press but more from the fact that the above mentioned “management” of that land and construction of the prison complex in it, implies the destrution of over 6000 adult cork oak trees, and some thousands of younger cork oak trees (3 to 5 years of age), with a density of 135 cork oak trees per hectare, higher than the national average, and one of the best areas of Montado (cork oak forest) in the country. It also adds to our surprise the fact that this area is totally covered by programs of communitary intervention and funding – AGRO (sustainable development of forest) and AGRIS – which have allowed the cleaning and organizing of the forest, as well as the plantation of the thousands of younger cork oak trees mentioned (fully growing in 2008), and became a model of fire protection and prevention and forest organization.

, The mentioned area belongs to the national agricultural reserve (Reserva Agrícola Nacional – RAN) and national ecological reserve (Reserva Ecológica Nacional – REN) and the mentioned project, as refered above, implies the destruction of cork oaks, in the peak of their productivity and health, as stated by the responsible technician, and according to the Cork Portuguese Association, cork oak forests are a very specific ecosystem, with a delicate balance, which exist only in the Mediterranean area, mainly in the southern regions of the Iberic Peninsul