The benefits of grazing
Livestock ‘clean’ fire breaks to prevent forest infernos
CASH to encourage shepherds to take their herds of itinerant livestock into strategic rural areas is being stumped up by the regional government.
Sheep, goats, cattle and horses are all seen as being an important component in the fight against forest fires.
They play a central role in the husbandry of areas which are difficult to reach, such as mountain slopes and woods.
Flocks and herds can eat prodigious amounts of vegetation in a day, carrying out natural pruning and preventing areas from becoming overgrown.
The regional department for the ecological transition announced this week that they are providing €200,000 – and the owners of flocks can bid for part of the pot.
A department spokesperson noted that they can receive €120 for each hectare of land covered, ‘depending on the level of activity’, with each herd owner able to claim up to €8,000.
“The grants will help with the natural control of vegetation by using livestock in strategic zones for the prevention of forest fires,” noted the spokesperson.
The areas have been published in the regional official bulletin (DOGV).
The regional government is targeting zones which act as ‘fire breaks’, which could be in mountainous areas managed by the regional government and even wetlands.
“The livestock will be removing combustible biomass and maintaining these fire breaks, which were created to prevent forest fires from spreading,” said the spokesperson.
Fire breaks include rural trails as well as cleared areas in forests which are designed to stop flames from advancing into new areas.
Organised grazing to keep vegetation in check also provides an ‘ecological function’ as well as helping to reduce the risk of countryside blazes, added the spokesperson.
The grants also help to encourage people to live in rural areas which are losing population.