What’s Next for Portugal’s Ancient Export: Cork?

About this episode

Leyla Kazim explores the challenges facing Portugal's cork industry amid climate change and changing market demands.

Leyla Kazim reports from cork country in Portugal - where up to 10,000 of hectares of cork oak trees are being lost every year, despite laws protecting them from being cut down. Climate change is putting new stresses on the ancient forests, and as the cork industry worries that falling wine consumption could shrink global demand, Leyla asks why Portugal became the world’s biggest producer of cork in the first place, and what it will take to keep them thriving. She meets farmers using regenerative methods of working the land to protect the montado, and plantations where thousands of new trees are being planted. Presented by Leyla Kazim Produced in Bristol for BBC Audio by Natalie Donovan

People in this episode

Host: Leyla Kazim

Topics covered

• cork industry
• climate change
• sustainable agriculture
• Portugal
• environmental protection

Keywords

• cork
• Portugal
• climate change
• sustainable farming
• cork oak trees
• montado
• regenerative methods

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC Radio 4

Places: Portugal, Bristol

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