Custodian Herds Operational Group: Innovative solutions for improving the viability of extensive livestock farming in order to prevent fires and conserve biodiversity

Outcome 1: Silvopastoral management models applicable to real farms in pilot areas are designed and validated, combining extensive grazing, pasture improvement, and active land management to reduce fire risk and conserve biodiversity. The models practically define appropriate stocking rates, grazing rotations and schedules, efficient land use organization, and basic infrastructure requirements such as fencing, water points, and access roads. They also incorporate guidelines for adapting management to the terrain characteristics and production objectives of each farm. For farmers and livestock breeders, their application allows for better use of available land, increased pasture productivity, reduced costs for clearing, supplemental feeding, and transportation, and improved farm stability and profitability. Furthermore, it facilitates access to public subsidies, management agreements with landowners, and new income opportunities linked to ecosystem services and product differentiation.

Result 2: A comprehensive analysis of the technical and economic feasibility of the applied models is conducted on typical farms, evaluating real management costs, investment needs, pasture productivity, optimal stocking rates, resource availability, and the profitability of silvopastoral management. The study identifies the most efficient practices, the adjustments that improve performance, and the land conditions that directly influence the economic results of extensive livestock farming. Management scenarios are also compared to guide decisions based on production objectives and the capacity of each farm. For farmers and livestock breeders, this information facilitates decision-making with clear data on costs, income, and risks, helping them to better plan their operations, optimize investments, and choose more profitable management practices. It allows them to anticipate expenses, improve the efficiency of daily work, and reduce economic uncertainties. Furthermore, it facilitates justifying projects for public funding, accessing financing, and designing safer, more sustainable, and more stable production strategies in the medium and long term.

Outcome 3: Practical strategies are defined to commercially value livestock products and the ecosystem services generated by extensive livestock farming. The work identifies real avenues for market differentiation, such as environmental certifications, territorial brands, sales through short supply chains, and linking products to fire prevention and landscape conservation. It also analyzes commercial positioning opportunities associated with local breeds, animal welfare, and sustainable production. For farmers and livestock breeders, these strategies allow them to sell better and at higher added value, access more profitable market niches, and strengthen the image of their products with consumers. They facilitate income diversification, reduce dependence on conventional channels, and leverage the social recognition of sustainable land management as a competitive advantage. Furthermore, they open up opportunities for commercial collaboration and strengthen the economic viability of the farm.

Outcome 4: A structured Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) system is designed and validated, allowing for the economic recognition of extensive livestock farming's contribution to fire prevention, biodiversity conservation, and landscape maintenance. The outcome defines simple methodologies for calculating and verifying these services, clear technical criteria, and an operational model applicable by administrations and land management entities. For farmers and livestock breeders, this system opens a new avenue for supplementary income linked to their daily land management work. It allows them to monetize environmental benefits that were previously uncompensated, improve the overall profitability of their operations, and strengthen their role as active landscape stewards. Furthermore, it facilitates access to public programs and stable agreements that provide greater economic security in the medium and long term.

Outcome 5: Agricultural stewardship agreements are formalized in pilot areas between forest management entities, livestock farmers, and public institutions, establishing clear commitments for the joint management of the land. These agreements regulate the use of grazing land, maintenance responsibilities, and fire prevention and environmental conservation objectives through simple contractual models adapted to each local context. For farmers and livestock breeders, these agreements offer stable and secure access to grazing land, reduce land-use conflicts, and facilitate long-term planning. They provide legal certainty, improve coordination with landowners and government agencies, and strengthen farm stability. Furthermore, they allow for the expansion of managed land, optimization of available resources, and the consolidation of livestock projects with greater economic viability.

Outcome 6: Technical and institutional support is provided to facilitate administrative procedures and coordination among government agencies, management bodies, and livestock farmers in the implementation of activities in strategic areas. This outcome includes practical tools, specialized advice, and simplified procedures that expedite authorizations, harmonize agricultural, forestry, and environmental regulations, and improve joint land-use planning. For farmers and livestock breeders, this support reduces time and bureaucratic burdens, facilitates starting or expanding their activities with greater certainty, and avoids delays caused by complex procedures. It allows them to focus on production, minimize administrative risks, and access permits, subsidies, and management agreements more easily. Furthermore, it improves coordination with government agencies and provides greater stability and confidence for medium- and long-term investment and planning.

Outcome 7: A practical technical and administrative implementation guide is developed, clearly outlining the steps, requirements, and best practices for implementing silvopastoral management models in strategic areas. The guide integrates procedures, technical criteria, real-world examples, and operational recommendations to facilitate coordination among livestock farmers, management entities, and government agencies, adapting to different territorial contexts. For farmers and livestock breeders, this tool simplifies how to start, expand, or improve their operations with confidence. It allows them to understand procedures, plan actions, and apply proven solutions without wasting time on unnecessary trials. It helps reduce errors, streamline processes, and make practical decisions with greater confidence, fostering more efficient and stable farms that are better prepared to access subsidies and new opportunities.

Outreach Outcome 1: Communication activities are being developed for the livestock sector and local stakeholders to clearly explain silvopastoral management models, their benefits, and associated opportunities. These activities include workshops, demonstrations, and informational materials showcasing real-world field experiences, applied solutions, and results obtained in pilot areas. For farmers and livestock breeders, these initiatives provide an opportunity to learn about successful practices, resolve doubts directly with technicians and other professionals, and learn how to implement the models on their own farms. They facilitate the exchange of experiences, access to useful information for decision-making, and the identification of opportunities for improved productivity and economics through relevant and applicable examples.

Outcome 2: Structured technical and outreach materials are generated and distributed, systematizing project knowledge for practical use by the sector. These include guides, fact sheets, specialized publications, and training materials that cover management methods, economic results, agreement models, and tools applicable to different farms and regions. For farmers and livestock breeders, these materials offer clear, ready-to-use information for daily farm management. They allow users to consult specific steps, compare management options, and apply proven solutions without requiring ongoing support. They facilitate technical and economic planning, improve decision-making, and help implement changes with less risk and greater efficiency.

Outcome 3: Exchange and knowledge transfer activities are organized between regions and stakeholders in the sector to facilitate the replicability of the developed models. This includes technical meetings, field visits among professionals, participation in sector networks, and presentation of results at specialized forums, fostering direct peer learning and the creation of partnerships. For farmers and livestock breeders, these activities provide an opportunity to learn about real-world experiences in other regions, identify solutions adaptable to their context, and establish valuable contacts with other professionals, organizations, and government agencies. They facilitate the sharing of problems and practical solutions, identify opportunities for collaboration, and accelerate the adoption of models that improve the efficiency, stability, and profitability of farms.