Barcelona subcontracts flock of sheep as part of forest fire prevention efforts

The Metropolitan Area of ​​Barcelona (AMB) has subcontracted a flock of sheep to clear the Collserola park as part the authority’s fire prevention efforts. 

Around 350 sheep and some goats are grazing in new areas agreed by authorities, mainly in the municipalities of Montcada i Reixac and Barcelona. 

This is the first time that this natural clearing service has been made official and contracted, after years in which this flock and others have grazed freely, clearing the undergrowth as they have gone along.

Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni pointed out that this practice of grazing is one of the “passive strategy” tools the city implements to prevent fires. 

Collboni affirmed that the park is “prepared” for the summer heat to arrive, but called for more investments in clearing the forest areas of the Collserola park. 

Since the autumn, the focus of authorities has been to maintain 312 hectares of forest to prevent fires. Of these, 185 have been defined as a priority protection perimeter. 

Collboni celebrated that the flock of sheep have been incorporated the “into the workforce.” The herd is one of the “passive strategy” tools of the AMB to fight against possible forest fires, along with fire breaks, water points, new accesses, improved signage, optimized electrical structure, and reinforced controls against waste dumping.

At the presentation of the subcontracting of the herd, Collboni also took the opportunity to appeal to all residents of the edge of the Collserola park to “be aware” of forest management and the importance of self-protection measures. “We need to be aware of the risks associated with heat and rising temperatures,” he pointed out.