Ronda’s ancient mountain harvest set to boost public funds again

High in the hills above Ronda, workers armed with specialised axes are carrying out a harvest that hasn’t changed in generations

Traditional mountain harvest powers local economy

Forest bark is turning into valuable income for Ronda this summer. Publicly owned cork oak estates are undergoing their seasonal stripping, bringing a welcome cash injection for town hall spending and community projects. Last year’s harvest brought in more than €600,000 for public funds, showing just how important this yearly event is for local taxpayers. Town hall leaders have officially launched la saca del corcho, the traditional cork harvest, with target yields expected to hit nearly 490,000 kilograms of raw bark.

Essential income for town council finances

Forecasting estimates that workers will extract at least 10,650 quintales castellanos from local trees, which in old Spanish trade metrics, one quintal equals roughly 46 kilograms. Activity focuses on Las Majadas de Ronda and El Berrueco woodlands, situated in the Los Alcornocales Natural Park within the Cortes de la Frontera boundary.

Generating roughly 1,200 individual day-shifts for local workers, the harvest provides vital summer work for regional families. Experienced cork strippers work with specialised axes to slice away bark without damaging the living tree underneath. Stripped trees then require a strict ten-year recovery period before another harvest can happen. Rugged terrain makes heavy machinery unusable, requiring traditional muleteers and working pack animals to carry harvested slabs out from deep ravines.

Balancing forestry with local livestock needs

Local officials don’t just let the trees do all the financial heavy lifting. Town hall planners cleverly combine cork stripping with cattle grazing rights, pasture rentals, and routine timber thinning throughout the calendar year. Reinvesting the woodland profits keeps the mountains looking pristine while quietly footing the bill for practical everyday needs, like fixing potholed rural lanes, clearing summer firebreaks and keeping local parks shipshape for everyone to enjoy.