<
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/catalonia-spain-fires-goats-mataro-b2804408.html>
'Amid a symphony of tinkling bells, some 300 black, brown and dappled goats
trot along a paved road in Spain's northeastern Catalonia region, stopping
every now and then to nibble with gusto on the dry shrubs lining the edge of a
forest.
The herd wandering from town to town is part of a pilot project set up in the
city of Mataro, which forms part of a broader European Union-funded effort to
mitigate the risk of wildfires.
Jose Antonio Ricis, Mataro's local councillor in charge of agriculture, said
the project was a success and was "here to stay".
Each summer, scorching heat sparks wildfires in countries across southern
Europe ravaging vast swathes of land as climate change intensifies. In
Catalonia last year, despite being in the third year of the worst drought in a
century, the number of outbreaks decreased, with the regional government
attributing the decline to improved fire prevention measures, of which goats
are just one part.
Goats are known for their voracious appetites, even feeding on thorny plants
like cacti or thistles, making them ideal for clearing brush and other
combustible materials to create natural firebreaks.
The practice of using livestock to clear flammable undergrowth dates back
centuries, but some farmers are turning away from machines favoured in modern
times and back to goats and other animals in search of more sustainable farming
techniques. In Spain's Galicia region, wild horses perform the job.'
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
