Maria José Dos-Santos, LIACOM researcher, together with Fernando da Mata, CISAS researcher, publish the article “Modeling Cork Yield, Thickness, Price, and Gross Income in the Portuguese Cork Oak Montado” in Forests journal (SCOPUS, Q1), analyzing the main variables that determine the productivity and sustainability of cork oak forests in Portugal.

Based on econometric models, the analysis revealed that the high density of cork oaks reduces the quality of cork produced as well as the positive externalities of the cork oak. On the other hand, climate change and extreme adverse weather phenomena, such as concentrated excessive precipitation, and climatic extremes associated with high temperatures and inappropriate agronomic practices contribute to reducing the productivity and especially the quality of this unique resource, which is crucial to protect due to its high contribution to Portugal’s economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Read the full article here.