A herd of 70 goats owned by rancher Eulalio Domínguez munches on around 300 kilos of vegetation every afternoon in high-risk fire areas in La Esperanza, Tenerife. This proactive grazing is crucial in reducing the potential spread of wildfires.
Domínguez’s goats roam through areas like Peñafiel, El Poleo, and La Montañeta, which are designated as High Fire Risk Zones (ZARI) in the municipality of El Rosario. The City Council praised the herd’s efforts, stating that their work is vital in wildfire prevention, especially with summer approaching.
This natural approach to fire prevention is a result of a municipal initiative encouraging shepherds in the goat and sheep sector in La Esperanza and Las Barreras to intensify their grazing efforts in interface zones and ravines.
Additionally, private landowners allowing animal entry on their properties play a key role in maintaining rural areas near the mountains, thus mitigating the severe impact of potential fires in residential areas.
Mayor of El Rosario, Escolásico Gil, emphasises the importance of traditional practices in rural areas to prevent tragedies like the previous summer’s wildfires. Livestock grazing on the herbs that naturally grow provides a practical solution, especially as the number of uncultivated lands increases, elevating the fire risks.
Shepherds like Eulalio Domínguez and Hilario Barrios, known as “Kiko”, are commended for their contributions in maintaining areas such as La Montañeta, Vista la Huerta, Peñafiel, Las Erillas, Juan Fernández, and El Poleo through grazing initiatives.
Furthermore, the recent approval of the municipal ordinance for the cleaning, fencing, and enclosing of lots and parcels in El Rosario enhances fire prevention efforts. This regulation aims to streamline the cleaning of rural lots near the mountains, which are most susceptible to fire hazards.
Another significant measure is the Municipal Action Plan against the Risk of Forest Fires, making El Rosario the first Canary Islands municipality to have such a document. This plan, developed by the Department of Forest Fire Risk Reduction of the University of La Laguna, focuses on creating resilient cities in the face of disasters.
