As its production grows in New Aquitaine, the association Le Liège gascon organized a discovery morning in Soustons dedicated to cork harvesting

"Precision, dexterity, and endurance!" These are the three words with which Delphine Ducasse, president of the association Le Liège gascon, sums up the job of a cork lifter. Early this morning on Monday, July 28, 2025, around thirty people gathered around Lake Soustons to witness the lifting (the name given to the cork harvest) of the Landes cork oak.

Around the display kakemonos, numerous trees, roots planted for several decades in the sandy soil, are waiting to be stripped of their bark. "It's important for us to raise awareness about this activity," explains Delphine Ducasse. "Many people still think that trees are cut down to extract cork."

After a quick explanation, it's time for the demonstration. Armed with a simple axe, one of the tree lifters strikes quick, sharp blows around the perimeter of the tree, before making a cut from the top of the trunk down to the roots. Then, turning his tool over, he uses it to try to peel off the bark, amidst a constant cracking sound. The task is exhausting and tedious for the forester, whose face quickly becomes beaded with sweat.

A harvest by hand

"Cork harvesting is only done in the middle of summer," explains the association's president, "because it's the heat that will allow the tree to grow." After several minutes of hard work, the partially bare plant reveals a new, red ochre trunk. It will take the oak about fifteen years to regain its appearance before it can be harvested again. In total, the tappers can remove no fewer than ten barks from a single tree.

In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, cork harvesting is done almost exclusively by hand, and mechanization is only just beginning. The association Le Liège gascon now has a prototype chainsaw, designed to cut the bark without damaging the central part of the tree. A tool that, beyond making the task easier for cork harvesters, would also help to increase the number of women in the profession, while among the ten or so foresters trained in cork harvesting, there is only one woman.

Although harvesting is done almost exclusively by hand in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the chainsaw, equipped with a sensor, helps avoid damaging the tree.
BF

Once harvested, cork has a variety of uses depending on its quality: stoppers, insulation, decoration, etc. Even in the aerospace industry, where it serves as a heat shield. Production remains at this stage in its infancy, due to the relatively high cost of production and competition from major producing countries such as Spain and Portugal.

But there is still hope for expanding production. In 2024, the Landes cork industry extracted 20 tons of raw material, compared to seven in 2017. It can now boast of having cork oak species born in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in its nurseries. This asset will facilitate the planting of future trees.

Adapted to climate change

On the day of the harvest, several members of the National Forestry Office (ONF) were present alongside the association. "This tree is not only important for production, but also for biodiversity and the landscape," explains Christophe Contival, a technician with the forest protection and management organization. The cork oak is more resistant to fires than other species in the region. Its bark burns but retains moisture, allowing the tree to survive and regenerate relatively quickly.

The ONF is currently planning to plant cork oaks along the edges of maritime pine forests, with the aim of limiting the spread of fires. "It's a species that is adapted to the climate change our region is experiencing," says Delphine Ducasse.

While it has many positive qualities, the cork oak is nonetheless a vulnerable species. "Like all trees, it can be subject to disease or insects," says Christophe Contival, "but the biggest parasite is humans." Harvesting can cause cuts in the trunk, which can kill the plant. Therefore, precision is essential when harvesting.