Livestock farming can be a sustainable tool for preventing wildfires.

According to the European Commission, the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires are linked to climate change, the abandonment of agricultural land, and the accumulation of dry vegetation. The real challenge is no longer understanding why wildfires occur, but how to prevent them. In this regard, the role of livestock as a land management tool is often underestimated.

Preventing wildfires requires integrated strategies, and the contribution of livestock should not be overlooked. When properly managed, grazing animals reduce the “fuel load”, the flammable biomass that feeds fires, by converting grasses and shrubs into a valuable food resource.

As Spanish veterinarian and science communicator Juan Pascual, author of the book “Reasons to be an OMNIVORE: For you and planet health”, explains: “Extensive livestock farming reduces combustible biomass. Animals graze on grasses and shrubs, precisely the material that fuels wildfires. Studies show that where herds are present, wildfires are less frequent and less intense.”

Using domestic or wild herbivores can reduce both wildfire risk and severity, including in abandoned agricultural areas. By feeding on grasses and woody vegetation, animals naturally limit the accumulation of flammable biomass. The most effective approaches involve mixed herbivore grazing and combining species with different feeding habits.

Promoting livestock farming in abandoned areas as a preventive measure against wildfires

Encouraging livestock farming in abandoned rural areas not only helps prevent wildfires but also offers a sustainable, economically viable solution that can generate ecosystem services and enhance the value of local landscapes. For this reason, agricultural, forestry, and civil protection policies should encourage the use of domestic and wild animals as a preventive land management tool in regions most exposed to wildfire risk. “History confirms this,” says Pascual. “The extinction of large herbivores during the Quaternary period led to a dramatic increase in wildfires, as demonstrated by research conducted by several U.S. universities.”

Studies indicate that the extinction of large herbivorous megafauna increased both the frequency and intensity of fires in grassland ecosystems, as evidenced by fossil charcoal deposits. The effect was strongest on continents that lost the highest number of herbivores, particularly grazing species, while the disappearance of species that primarily fed on shrubs had a smaller impact.

Farm animals as an ecological resource

Farm animals, therefore, represent an ecological resource that is relatively low-cost and capable of generating value. “What may appear at first glance to be ‘dry grass’ is actually transformed into high-quality protein in the form of meat and milk,” Pascual explains, “while simultaneously supporting rural employment and the cultural landscapes that define much of our countryside.” However, he points to a growing concern: “Rural populations are shrinking and ageing. The countryside is becoming depopulated, and without farmers and shepherds, vegetation accumulates until it becomes fuel ready to ignite devastating wildfires. Preventing wildfires requires supporting the farmers who care for both animals and the land, but also valuing their products. Without demand for meat and milk, sheep, goats, and cattle would disappear, along with the grazing systems that control vegetation and help protect landscapes.”

The importance of sound policies

Another crucial issue concerns public policy. The European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) already provides financial support. Still, in the future, it may be necessary to formally recognise and compensate for the ecosystem services provided by agriculture and livestock farming, such as carbon sequestration and wildfire prevention. “Some cities, such as Barcelona, have begun experimenting with the use of goats to clear peri-urban forests,” Pascual notes. “This is a step in the right direction, but it is not enough if, at the same time, policies are implemented that stigmatise, for example, the consumption of red meat in schools. We cannot call for more livestock for environmental reasons while simultaneously discouraging the consumption of the products these animals provide.”

Ultimately, what scientific research confirms today was already well known to shepherds of the past: grasslands and forests grazed by animals do not accumulate weeds, brush, and dry vegetation, making them far less likely to burn. As we look to the future of wildfire prevention, we may once again need to rely on this ancient alliance between humans, nature, and animals.