The article makes it pretty clear (cork forests aren't cut down for harvesting): > Planting forests is a commonly used approach to offset carbon emissions by

The article makes it pretty clear (cork forests aren't cut down for harvesting): > Planting forests is a commonly used approach to offset carbon emissions by polluting industries, but when the trees are harvested they are usually cut down and much of their stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere. > But cork oaks are one of the few commercial forests not felled for harvesting. This means the cork tree's carbon storage capacity keeps increasing during the 200 or more years the trees can live. > Most of the carbon remains locked in the tree as it continues to grow. Although cork products contain some of the absorbed carbon, they can have a long life after being cut from the tree. Cork can be recycled and is slow to break down even when discarded.