Tlemcen First meeting researchers, managers and industry on the management of cork oak and cork quality.

UNIVERSITY. Tlemcen First meeting researchers, managers and industry on the management of cork oak and cork quality. The Forestry Department of the Faculty of Science University Abou Bakr Belkaid, National Institute of Forestry Research (INRF) and the Directorate General of Forests (DGF) held the first meeting researchers, managers and industry on: the management of cork oak forests and quality cork of 19 to 21 October 2009 by Rachid Bouhraoua forestry department head, coordinator. The objective is the current state of research in silviculture and cork quality in Algeria, the identification of factors of variation of cork production and management problems of cork oak and cork industry, development a national program of applied research in silviculture aimed at boosting the production of cork quality and exchange of information between researchers, managers and industry on problems related to cork and cork oak he said more The topics to be discussed are the management and type of stands of cork oak, cork quality: index, map, physical and mechanical properties, sustainable management of cork forests, health status and factors of decay, cork and reforestation, market economy of cork and its derivatives. The problem: the cork oak (Quercus suber L.) has long been an important economic resource forest of Algeria. The cork provides returns that essentially caps the industry, forest product Algerian best paid, most often for export abroad. The dynamics of trade in this resource, renewable and profitable has resulted in the birth of several processing units cork in Algeria. Faced with the alarming decline of cork oak forests due to various factors, from 450 000 to less than 200 000 ha productive, the sector is seriously threatened. To this is added the threat problem of production has fallen from 30 000 to 10-12 000 tonnes / year. In addition to the quantitative problem, the cork has also undergone a qualitative impairment worrying where more than 60% of the crop is unsuitable for the capping and then crushing. Demand continues cork quality, currently certified on the world market requires the revitalization of silviculture in Algeria for the development and preservation of the cork industry, and that the implementation of a national management strategy and adequate sustainable cork forests. Gadiri Mohammed.