Montado Living-Lab

A Montado regeneration living lab in Alentejo

Cork Supply is proud to be part of the Montado Living-Lab initiative, a project dedicated to regenerating the Montado ecosystem in Alentejo and managing soil health.

The Montado region is a vital source of high-quality food, fiber, and various ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, water storage, soil erosion prevention, fire protection, biodiversity conservation, and habitat for pollinators. Economically, the Montado plays a significant role in preventing rural migration to urban areas and is a substantial contributor to the Portuguese economy, with cork exports.

Sadly, the Montado has been gradually deteriorating, mainly due to the loss of tree cover density and soil degradation. 

To counteract these negative soil effects, intelligent land management is imperative. Consortiums like Montado Living-Lab aim to achieve this by fostering enduring partnerships based on trust and transparency. These partnerships bring together key stakeholders, including farmers, multidisciplinary research teams, government institutions, and industry representatives like Cork Supply.

In a holistic approach, what this consortium proposes with the Montado Living Lab is to address the genuine needs of farmers and use their lands as real-life experimentation grounds. The ultimate goal is to improve Montado soil health, restore tree cover, and create more resilient business models for both farmers and industries.

This Cork Supply partnership aligns with the national plan to protect oak trees (Eixo 3 | Medida 7 - Plano Nacional Sobreiro), contributes to carbon removal and storage through forest restoration, innovative farming practices, and is in harmony with our company's green bond and green loan principles, supporting environmental objectives. Our participation in this consortium is fully aligned with Cork Supply's Corporate Sustainability Agenda.