Agriculture and livestock: invisible allies in forest fire prevention

In recent summers, forest fires have once again made headlines throughout Spain and much of southern Europe. Intensifying heat waves, longer periods of drought, and the accumulation of biomass in the mountains create an explosive combination that turns the territory into a breeding ground for fires, a powder keg difficult to control. However, in parallel with the debate about the lack of firefighting resources or the need for greater forestry planning, various agricultural associations and organizations linked to extensive livestock farming have put forward a message that is gaining traction: cultivated land and traditional grazing are essential tools for reducing the risk of fires.

The agroforestry mosaic as a natural firebreak

The Spanish Agro-Food Cooperatives emphasize that agricultural crops generate "mosaic landscapes" that act as true natural firebreaks . Plots of vineyards, olive groves, cereal crops, or almond trees interspersed with forests break the continuity of plant fuel and hinder the spread of flames.
"When a fire reaches a vineyard or irrigated field, it encounters an effective barrier. The fire loses intensity and, in many cases, can be stopped," the organization points out. Therefore, they call for policies that recognize the value of maintaining agricultural activity in high-fire risk areas, often located in mountainous regions or in difficult-to-access territories.

Extensive livestock farming: clearing the forest at zero cost

Along the same lines, livestock associations such as the Federation of Native Breeds of Spain (FEDERAPES) emphasize that extensive grazing serves a purpose that goes far beyond meat or milk production. " Our cows, sheep, and goats perform an invaluable ecosystem service: they keep shrubby vegetation at bay , which would otherwise accumulate in the mountains as fuel," they point out.

A herd of 300 goats can consume more than 1,000 kilos of brush per day . On a regional scale, this "natural clearing" effect equates to thousands of hectares managed without the need for heavy machinery or herbicides. This is why more and more autonomous communities are promoting "guided grazing" agreements, integrating livestock into fire prevention plans.

For their part, the associations of native beef cattle breeds want to highlight extensive livestock farming, and in particular native breed cattle, "as it is the best and cheapest current tool for clearing forests, meadows, and pastures , making the most of resources and not generating specific expenses for fire prevention and extinction. It is essential that the importance of extensive livestock farming for forest clearing is valued. To this end, it must have the support of public administrations, which must provide the necessary means so that farms can increase their herd numbers, have no restrictions on access to pastures, and ensure that when conflicts with wildlife occur during forest use, they are promptly compensated, and incentives are ensured for the maintenance of livestock farms in rural areas ."

The Royal Spanish Federation of Select Livestock Associations (RFEAGAS) has also presented the draft of theStrategy for a Resilient Territory , a framework program that places extensive livestock farming and native breeds as key tools in fire prevention and biodiversity conservation.

The proposal, open to input from the sector, proposes measures such as integrating controlled grazing into forest management plans, strengthening transhumance as a cultural and environmental heritage, valuing ecosystem services in the CAP, and promoting awareness-raising campaigns under the slogan "Extensive Livestock Farming: A Natural Firebreak."

With this approach, RFEAGAS emphasizes that supporting extensive livestock farming means investing in environmental safety, economic sustainability, and living cultural heritage , as well as ensuring a viable future for rural Spain.

Along these same lines, the Spanish Association of Breeders of Select Asturian Valley Cattle (ASEAVA) has published the conclusions of a round table discussion in which experts and farmers agreed that landscape and forest fuel management—biomass, scrubland, and dry pastures—is the only measure that can be directly addressed to reduce the risk of fires , thus reinforcing the importance of agricultural and livestock farming in prevention.

The vision of environmental organizations

From an environmental perspective, organizations such as SEO/BirdLife and WWF Spain also recognize the role of the primary sector. Although there have historically been frictions with some models of agricultural intensification or unsustainable practices, when it comes to fire prevention, there is a growing consensus: rural abandonment is the greatest enemy.
"Where farmers and ranchers disappear, forests close in, biomass accumulates, and the risk of fires skyrockets," WWF points out. They therefore call for future forestry and agricultural planning to incorporate clear incentives to maintain viable farms in areas of high natural value, promoting practices that respect biodiversity .

Rural firefighters and the practical perspective

Forest firefighters themselves have expressed their concern about the loss of agricultural and livestock activity in various forums. Associations such as APLB (Association of Forest Firefighting Professionals) explain that firefighting cannot rely solely on increasingly expensive extinguishing methods . "If the forest is cleared by livestock or if there are cultivated fields that disrupt the continuity of the forest, our work is greatly simplified and many lives and property are saved," they assert.

In his view, budgets should be rebalanced to invest more in prevention—including support for farmers and herders —than in mere extinction.

Agrarian organizations: the territory as a shield

COAG and UPA insist that family farming and extensive livestock farming are the best guarantee for keeping the land alive. “The CAP must recognize this protective role. We're not just talking about producing food, but also about safeguarding the land, preventing depopulation, and protecting our villages from fire ,” COAG states.

For its part, UPA points out that small- and medium-scale farms are often located in the urban-wildland interface , precisely the areas most vulnerable to fires. "Keeping these spaces active and managed is essential to ensure they don't become a ticking time bomb every summer," they point out.

Operational Groups: innovation against fire

In recent years, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has promoted numerous Innovation Task Forces that seek to implement practical solutions to the livestock and fire prevention issue. These projects demonstrate that scientific knowledge and technological innovation can strengthen the role of farmers and ranchers in land management.

GO PREVINOVIC (2024-2027)

With a budget of €593,715 and a supra-regional scope (Andalusia, Aragon, Madrid), this project studies how extensive sheep and goat farming can become a systematic tool for fire prevention. Its objective is to characterize the small ruminant ecosystem, link it to forest management, and apply innovative management technologies to enhance silvopasture as an ecosystem service.

GO INTERFACE (2020-2023)

This group, with a supra-regional scope (Castile and León, Catalonia, Galicia), has developed comprehensive management tools for the urban-wildland interface , one of the areas most vulnerable to fires. Based on open data and cooperation among stakeholders, INTERFAZ has promoted agroforestry management measures that reduce risks and enhance ecosystem services.

GO SILVOPASTORISMO – Digital shepherds against fire (2024-2025)

With its epicenter in Andalusia, this project works on the digitalization of extensive grazing as a prevention mechanism. IoT sensors, satellite images, artificial intelligence, and digital twins are being used to plan controlled grazing operations that reduce forest fuel loads. It also seeks to differentiate livestock products linked to silvopastoral grazing in the market, creating a seal of added value.

GO Monte Vecinal do Xalo (2017)

This Galician group designed a management methodology for communal forests that integrates environmental, social, and cultural criteria, moving beyond eucalyptus monoculture. Their proposal promotes multifunctional management compatible with biodiversity, the landscape, and, especially, forest fire prevention.

GO Pasture Productivity and Prevention (2018-2023)

In Catalonia, this project integrated forestry, livestock, habitat, and fire prevention management in pilot areas such as Montnegre-Corredor, Lluçanès, and the Sierra de Bellmunt. Its methodology allows for the evaluation of different livestock management models from four perspectives: production, habitat conservation, fire risk reduction, and forest improvement.

GO PROMINIFUN: Innovative management models for improving productivity in smallholding areas

The PROMINIFUN Operational Group: Innovative management models for improving productivity in smallholding areas was developed between 2019 and 2021 and involved the autonomous communities of Aragon, Asturias, Cantabria, Castile and León, Castile-La Mancha, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid, and Navarre.
It promotes the design of new management models and proposals for the revaluation of potential productive areas. Its overall objective is the recovery, enhancement, and revitalization of smallholdings in rural forest areas through the development of innovative land management solutions that address the problems arising from land abandonment.

GO ESJARA: Rockrose essential oil for the development of the bioeconomy in rural areas (2023-2025)

The ESJARA Operational Group: Essential rockrose oil for the development of the bioeconomy in rural areas, was completed between 2023 and 2025 and is also supra-regional in nature, involving Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Extremadura. ESJARA promotes the development of the potential for obtaining rockrose derivatives and, in particular, essential oils through the active management of Cistus ladanifer and Cistus laurifolius scrublands, extending the activity to new areas currently abandoned and modernizing their harvesting to generate economic returns for their owners and contribute to the fight against climate change through sustainable forest management and fire prevention.

ONDEHESA Operational Group: Intelligent Observation of the DEHESA to prevent drought (2024-2025)

The ONDEHESA project will develop an innovative measurement system, based on IoT devices, that will allow real-time monitoring of the state of the dehesa, while also helping to issue recommendations that warn of the presence of the pathogen, along with its degree of severity, or even the possibility of its appearance, even before visual signs appear on the tree itself.

Among the project's expected outcomes are: Software for the automated detection of drought based on machine learning, which will aid in its prevention and severity assessment, thus contributing to the conservation of dehesas. Software for the visualization of indicators that help predict the onset of drought. Forty people will be trained to use the developed system.

Examples of success in the territory

Beyond operational groups, in regions such as Galicia, Catalonia, and Andalusia, initiatives have been implemented that confirm the effectiveness of the agricultural and livestock approach. The Galician "Ovica Pastores" program, the Catalan "Ramats de Foc" program , and the practices of Andalusian olive grove cooperatives demonstrate how the continuity of the agricultural landscape translates into greater resilience to fires.

A country strategy

All organizations agree that the agricultural sector cannot be solely responsible for prevention, but it is an irreplaceable ally. Maintaining active farms in rural areas means avoiding fuel accumulation, keeping the population in rural areas, and producing quality products with a strong environmental component.

Experts are calling for policies that integrate agriculture, livestock, forest management, science, and technology into a common strategy. And they emphasize a strong message: investing in extensive agriculture and livestock farming also means investing in fire safety.

In this regard, there is a call for better coordination for fire prevention. Rural development plans, specific incentives in the CAP, agreements with regional and local governments, and awareness campaigns aimed at the public are emerging as necessary tools to consolidate this approach.

Various government agencies also have initiatives in the agricultural and livestock sectors to contribute to reducing forest fires. This includes the Lugo Provincial Council's "Lo que no arde" (What Doesn't Burn) program, which has recently been boosted with €385,000 (three times the previous year's amount) to finance investments in extensive-scale horse, sheep, goat, and pig farms. These investments range from electric shepherds, smart collars, and electric fences to shelters, feeders, waterers, and monitoring applications. With grants of up to €12,000 per farm , the program strengthens silvopastoralism as a prevention tool while supporting the viability of extensive livestock farming, establishing populations in the area and establishing itself as an effective barrier to fires .

Conclusion: Farming and herding to put out fires before they start

In short, the message conveyed by agricultural, livestock, environmental, and firefighting professionals is clear: maintaining agriculture and livestock farming in the area is one of the best strategies for preventing forest fires . It's not just about producing food or preserving traditions, but about creating safer, more resilient, and sustainable landscapes.
In a climate change scenario that increases the risk of extreme weather events, investing in innovation in agriculture and livestock farming also means investing in security, civil protection, and the future.