Galicia is taking part in a transformative project to prevent major wildfires using extensive livestock grazing and controlled burns.
A forest fuel management project based on the implementation of pyro-grazing plans with extensive livestock has been supported by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Government of Spain. The project, in which the Galician Forestry Association and the University of Santiago (Campus Terra), together with entities from Navarre and Andalusia, are participating, will develop pilot models for forest fire protection over the next three years.
The objective is to innovate and modernise the combined practice of prescribed burns and grazing with extensive livestock, as is already being done in other countries affected by the risk of large wildfires. To this end, the project will develop pilot schemes and initiatives in various municipalities in Galicia, applying new technologies such as virtual fencing. This is a system that monitors the livestock's location via GPS collars, which issue warning signals to the animals should they attempt to leave the designated grazing coordinates.
The experiences and pilot schemes to be developed will measure the effect of controlled burns, combined with grazing, on vegetation recovery and habitat development. Another point of interest for the project will be assessing the impact of controlled burns on low-density trees that may be present in the burn areas, in order to evaluate the compatibility of this practice with tree conservation.
The trials will be carried out in Galicia as well as in the communities of Navarre and Andalusia. The pilot schemes and experiences to be developed are intended to serve as an example in agriculture of possible business models that contribute to creating resilient landscapes.
Ultimately, the importance of managing natural territory to conserve it through economically and socially viable practices is emphasised.
It should be borne in mind that the conditions for the occurrence of large wildfires will persist or worsen in the coming years due to climate change. In that scenario, investment in firefighting will always be insufficient, as large fires reach points where they rapidly exceed the threshold of extinguishing capacity. The only effective means of protection is prevention.
The project, called COMPÁS (PASturing for Fuel), is one of 14 projects approved in the grant call for Major Scientific and Technical Transformative Projects for the promotion of the bioeconomy by the Biodiversity Foundation. The initiative will receive €1.36 million from Next Generation funds, through the Ministry for Ecological Transition's Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
Five partners are involved in the project: the Public University of Navarre, the Zaidín Experimental Station (CSIC), the University of Santiago, the Association of Shepherds for the Mediterranean Mountain and the Galician Forestry Association. Support will also be provided by public management bodies, as well as by companies and entities at regional and local levels, which will actively participate in the project's activities.
