So our title might sound a bit dramatic, but a campaign running in Falmouth this month is banking on us buying more wine with natural corks in a bid to preserve and protect the livelihood and wildlife that depend on the cork industry to survive.

The Cork Initiative will be monitoring the number of natural cork bottles bought between the 4 and the 18 May to feed into a report sending a clear economic message to wine producers that natural corks are supported by consumers and worth saving. Covering a vast 2.7 million hectares of Mediterranean and North African countries, ancient cork oak forests play home to a vast array of plant life along with over 1000 species of birds, fish, amphibians and mammals, including the endangered Barbary deer the imperial eagle and the critically endangered Iberian lynx.

The forests are currently maintained and protected by cork farmers, who can harvest the cork year round without damaging the trees or habitat, but as demand dwindles the forests become increasingly susceptible to land developers, cattle farm expansion or just plain neglect.

Supporting the cause is simple. Just head down to any of the local independent licensed stores in Falmouth, Constantine, Penryn and Mylor and buy yourself a bottle of natural cork wine. The sales figures will be tallied and a report made which could just send the right signal to make a difference for the cork industry.

Find out more about the Cork Initiative, the cork harvest and why natural cork is better on their website. And remember, every cork counts - sounds like the perfect excuse for a glass of red to us.