Ecological value of the cork forest

As an evergreen forest, the cork ‘montado’ is one of the climax societies of the Mediterranean. Thus it occupies a small niche between moderate and arid climate in an area constantly threatened by forest fires and desertification.

It is a three layer forest, in which the cork oak- eventually mixed with holm oak (Quercus ilex/ rotundifolia) and Iberian oak (Quercus faginea) forms the canopy under which several shrubs like the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), tree heather (Erica arborea), myrtle (Myrtus communis) and many others grow. Rare species like the Iberian lince, several owl species and the tree breeding Bonelli eagle depend on this habitat.

The World Wildlife Fund WWF declared it an area of high conservation value. View PDF