Please note that all the 6 technical visits will take place on the 11th July at the same time, what means that each participant can only attend one.
General Terms and Conditions
. Technical visits will take place on the July 11 immediatly after the morning sessions.
. Bookings can be made in the online registration form or by e-mail to iufro2012@the.pt; . Each visit must have a minimum of 20 participants; . Reservations will be made on a "first come first served" basis; . Each technical visit has a cost of € 35
. Reservations will be accepted until June 22, 2012
In Amorim Forest unit guests will be able to see the stockage of raw materials, CONVEX cooking, selection of raw materials and the production of discs for champagne cork stoppers. In the Equipar unit guests will see the grinding and production of technical corks - Twin-Top.
About Corticeira Amorim:
While tracing its roots to the XIX Century, CORTICEIRA AMORIM SGPS has become the world's largest cork and cork-derived company in the world, generating Euro 495 Million in sales throughout 103 countries. CORTICEIRA AMORIM SGPS and its subsidiaries are an integral part of a conservationist effort to guarantee the survival of hundreds of thousands of cork trees throughout the Mediterranean Basin. We are proud of our contribution to the correct utilisation of these important forests that are home to several endangered species throughout the region. We encourage you to learn more by visiting informative websites such as http://www.amorim.com/ and http://www.corkfacts.com/
Visit to the Cork Forest:
The cork oak is the basis of an ecological system that is unique in the world. It contributes to the survival of many native species of fauna and flora and prevents desertification in vulnerable areas. It is fundamental to preserving the environment.
Among the various characteristics that distinguish the cork oak from the other trees in its botanical species, what stands out most is its capacity to regenerate naturally after each extraction of its bark, the cork.
The lifespan of a cork oak is between 170 and 200 years, during which time its bark may be stripped around 15 to 18 times.
Visit to Amorim Florestal:
With remarkable cork storage facilities totaling 11 hectares (more or less 11 football fields), visitors will have the chance to have an insight into the preparation of cork.
Visit to Amorim & Irmãos – Equipar Industrial Unit:
Amorim’s most recent plant and currently the world’s largest cork stopper manufacturing facility; Equipar is specialized in the production of new generation, technical cork stoppers that play a pivotal in the industry’s future.
Recommendations: We advise participants to wear comfortable and closed shoes, trousers (to protect your legs) and a hat since there will be a visit to the forest.
The Portucel Soporcel group is today a leading force in the international pulp and paper industry and one of Portugal’s main exporters, accounting in 2011 for exports worth in excess of 1.2 billion euros. The Group operates in a sector of structural importance to the Portuguese economy. Within the forestry sector, the Group is the leading operator in the pulp and paper industry, as well as generating the largest individual share of the sector’s overall contribution to the national trade balance.
The Group’s leading position in the Portuguese economy reflects its concern for sustainable forest management and conservation of biodiversity.
As one of the leading players in the eucalyptus forestry sector, the Portucel Soporcel group is responsible for the management of approximately 120 thousand hectares of forest, and was the first organization in Portugal to obtain certification both from the FSC – Forest Stewardship Council and under the PEFC – Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes.
The Group has been a driving force behind the expansion of the forest certification process in Portugal, which it has identified as essential in order to assure that the country’s forestry products are competitive on international markets.
In the field of Research & Development the work carried out by RAIZ – Instituto de Investigação de Floresta e Papel has supported cutting-edge projects for improving the characteristics of eucalyptus and improving sustainable forestry management practices, ensuring the availability of raw material of a high standard for the manufacture of top quality paper.
Biodiversity conservation is another area in which the Portucel Soporcel group has invested heavily, integrating measures to preserve habitats and species identified in its woodlands holdings into its forest management procedures.
The Group currently boasts annual production capacity for 1.6 million tons of paper, 1.4 million tons of pulp (of which 1.1 million is integrated into paper) and power generation of 2.5 TWh.
The Group has also pursued a policy of developing Portugal’s woodlands and runs the country’s largest nursery - Espirra Estate - for forest species, producing some 7.4 million plants each year, of which 85% are eucalyptus and maritime pine, 13.5% other forest species (mainly oak and cork oak) and 1.5% ornamental plants. From 2012 onwards, as the result of a major investment programme in expansion and modernization, the Group’s nurseries will be responsible for producing 12 million certified plants each year, making them the largest such facility for forest plants in Europe.
Program
12h15 - Departure by bus, From Centro Congressos Estoril to Portucel Group -Espirra Estate
13h30 - Arrival at Espirra Estate
13h45 - Presentation (Espirra Room)
14h15 - Visit to Espirra Nurseries
15h15 - End of the visit
15h30 - Departure to Castelo de Palmela for a guided visit, Moscatel of Setúbal and fogaça tasting and time for shopping at the handicraft shop.
Palmela Castle has been a national monument since 1910; the visit feature the Church of Santiago (St James), then the S. Tiago Visitable Collection in the Paços de D.Jorge, and the Praça de Armas (Parade-ground) museum area including the Military Communication exhibition, against a background of the history and origins of the Castle. The visit will end with a glass of Setúbal muscat wine and time for shopping in the handicraft shop.
The Setúbal industrial site, located in Mitrena, consists of two integrated manufacturing facilities: a mill producing bleached eucalyptus pulp, and two paper mills.
The New Paper Mill (Setúbal) started up in late 2009 and represented capital investment of 525 million euros. The new mill has enabled the Group to incorporate all the pulp produced at the Setúbal site into paper products and to strengthen its relative position in Europe, making it today the leading manufacturer of uncoated woodfree (UWF) printing and writing paper. This capital project has increased the Group’s annual capacity for paper production to 1.6 million tons.
The Setúbal pulp mill is one of the largest and most advanced in Southern Europe. Its competitive advantages include excellent energy performance and eco-efficiency.
Program
12h15 - Departure by bus, From Centro Congressos Estoril to Portucel Group _ Setubal New Paper Machine
13h15 Arrival at New Paper Machine
13h30 - Presentation 14h15 - Coffee Break
14h45 - New Paper Machine Visit
16h00 - End of visit. Departure to Quinta da Bacalhôa.
16h30 - Visit Palácio da Bacalhôa.
Both inside and out, guests can view unique pieces of the Palace’s private art collection, passing through the gardens and vineyards to the lakeside house where the very first dated painted tile in Portugal can be found.
Over the centuries, the architecture, the decor and the gardens of the Palace have been influenced by various owners, who drew inspiration from their travels across Europe, Africa and the Orient to transform the property into a rare gem.
As time has progressed, the estate has been beautified by Portuguese hand-painted tiles from the XV and XVI centuries evoking Moorish designs. Following to the visit guests will have the chance to taste the wines of the region also has regional cheese.
Companhia das Lezírias is the largest agriculture, cattle and forest farmstead in Portugal, covering the marshlands of Vila Franca de Xira, Charneca do Infantado and Pauis (Belmonte, Lavouras and Magos), totaling about 18,000 hectares of cork forest, extensive rice fields, pine forests, olive groves and vineyards. With over 6,000 hectares, Companhia das Lezírias has one of the largest cork oak plantations in one single location. As the word indicates Lezírias derives from the Arabic al-Jazeera - "the island", the truth is that it still includes an island, surrounded by the rivers Tejo and Sorraia, and a set of wetlands rich in biodiversity. This area combines an excellent space and a rich biodiversity in multiple agricultural and rural activities, meeting all the conditions for recreational activities, educational, workshops or mere meetings. Here visitors can discover the environmental delights of an unusual number of different paths, which is only possible by the scale of the territory in question. Those who visit Companhia das Lezíras enjoy of an extreme natural beauty that is included in a Classified Area due to its precious biodiversity of migratory birds and landscape.
Program
12h15 - Departure by bus, From Centro Congressos Estoril to Companhia das Lezírias
13h30 - Arrival and welcome.
Visit the company's stables and the Lusitano horse; Introduction to the cultural and economic role of Lezirias Company; Visit to the free range cattle production, Extensive Biological Production; Drive through Carrasqueira's pinewood forest. Timber, firewood and pinecones production; Visit to the cork oak forest and seeded meadows - Zero Carbon Project
Arrive at the Catapereiro's wine cellar. Visit the vineyards, wine cellar and olive tree plantation followed by a wine tasting.
The “Pinhal de Leiria” (Leiria pine forest) is one of the largest national forest with great historical and economic value, known in the past as "King Forest Pine". This national forest with 11,023 hectares consists of a large coastal strip which lies mostly in the council of Marinha Grande. It’s origin dates back to the reign of King D. Afonso III and King D. Dinis, encapsulating 700 years of History. At that time the main functions were the establishment of the coastal sands and the production and the wood supply for the needs of growing shipbuilding industry, so important for the Portuguese discovery’s in the XIV century. The visitors can appreciate a forest with an important economic value, well managed and one off the most important suppliers of raw materials for the industries of lumbering. In the last century it was also very important to the distillation of resinous products and glass industry. They may also know one of the most emblematic areas of the Portuguese pine forest, known for the high quality of wood (long-term revolution – 80 years). This forest is one of the best examples of sustainability and balance between production and conservation principles. The “Pinhal de Leiria” is a place of excellency for several research projects, like the Portuguese pine breeding program. It’s visited by experts, students, foresters and by anyone looking for a peaceful and natural environment. Its unique character and beauty makes it’s a very special place. n the end visitors will also be able to see FLORESTLIS S.A. an important sawmill in the region and understanding the process of the pine wood transformation.
Program*
12h15 - Departure from Estoril Conference Centre. Lunch box delivery.
14h30 – Reception at:Bairro Florestal de Pedreanes
14h45 – Exit to the field
Stop at different sites do see:
- Stands in different production stages illustrating the pine management plan: clear cut, natural regeneration and thinning and resin extraction areas.
- Trees selected for wood quality pine breeding and provenance tests.
- sustainability and multifunctional management where production and leisure functions are conciliated;
16h00 – End of field visit
16h30 – Reception at FLORESTLIS, a sawmill at Monte Redondo, Leiria
16h45 – Visit to the sawmill
18h00 - End of visit and return to Estoril.
* This is a preliminary program and is subject to changes
Technical visit 6 - Quinta do Furadouro - CANCELLED
Altri Florestal is a forest company part of ALTRI Group responsible for the management of approximately 84 thousand hectares of doubled certified forests land. The company’s mission is to ensure the continuous supply of quality wood and biomass to 3 ALTRI mills (Celbi, Caima and Celtejo) and 4 energy plants at competitive prices. Altri Florestal mainly manages eucalyptus plantations but also cork oak, pine and other forest species producing around 30% of own wood needs. Altri Florestal has more than 45 years experience of applied forest R&D focusing on eucalyptus plantations (general forest management; nutrition and forest protection; biometrics and growth modelling; genetic improvement; and forest protection and conservation).Major R&D programmes include:
· Increasing productivity: enabling quicker growth · Decreasing consumption per ton of pulp produced · Increasing quality: wood, fibre, pulp and paper · The promotion of environmental sustainability · Operation efficiency and safety
Study tour aims at providing visitors with a bird view of current activities carried out at Quinta do Furadouro, Óbidos with special attention to tree breeding activities and deployment. Altri Florestal is now starting the 4th breeding cycle with Eucalyptus globulus and its hybrids and visitors are expected to understand the company’s strategy, the use of controled pollination to produce outstanding genotypes for both genetic improvement and commercial plant production, nursery activities for plant propagation by grafting, by mini cutting and traditional macro cutting and understand forest protection concerns related to plagues and diseases. Beside the technical activities, Quinta do Furadouro is a XVth century building worthwhile visiting.
