Over one hundred men and women have taken part in the first edition of the national cork harvester certification launched by the FUTURECORK project. This initiative has been implemented in Catalonia, Extremadura, and Andalusia to professionalise cork harvesting through a rigorous training and certification model aligned with the standards of the European Forestry and Environmental Skills Council (EFESC).
This new certification has made it possible to define, agree on, and validate a set of minimum competencies for cork harvesting, to produce high-quality educational materials, to activate a network of accredited trainers and examiners, and to generate institutional interest in the professional licence. The initiative has received unanimous support from professionals in the sector, who see certification as a pathway to dignifying the trade, recognising experience, and improving employability in rural areas. It also presents a valuable opportunity to exchange best practices in cork harvesting across different cork-producing regions.
The training covered topics such as occupational health and safety during cork harvesting, both traditional and new harvesting tools and their handling, as well as knowledge of cork quality, cork oak forest silviculture, pests and diseases affecting cork oak trees, and—above all—practical cork harvesting.
Thanks to FUTURECORK, both the training course and participation in the exam were offered free of charge. Results indicate that this model could evolve into a national policy aimed at the professionalisation, dignification, and sustainability of a key trade for the responsible management of cork oak forests. It has strong potential to help retain rural populations and generate high-quality green jobs. The inclusion of women in cork harvesting and the forestry sector as a whole remains an ongoing challenge.
About the Project
FUTURECORK is a transformative project aimed at adapting and optimising Spain’s cork sector in response to current and future ecological, economic, and social conditions. The project has five key areas of research and action designed to increase the resilience of cork oak forests to climate change and wildfires; reduce rural depopulation through professionalisation, entrepreneurship, and diversification of the sector; increase the added value of the cork value chain; and dignify forest labour through communication and awareness-raising.
FUTURECORK is supported by the Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) under the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, and has a total budget of €1.4 million.
This action has also received the support of the Regional Government of Extremadura, the Regional Government of Andalusia, the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food of the Government of Catalonia, and the Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia.
