In the Canary Islands, "firefighter sheep" protect the reserve from fire
In the town of Tegueste in the Canary Islands, about 400 sheep are used to prevent fires by eating dry grass, creating natural barriers.
In a picturesque corner of the Canary Islands, in the Anaga Reserve, protected by UNESCO, the town of Tegueste has come up with a cool way to fight fires and take care of nature. They use sheep!
About 400 sheep, known here as "firefighter sheep", roam the ravines and along the roads, eating dry grass. This creates a natural barrier that prevents the fire from spreading.
This idea is being implemented by local farmers José Manuel Trujillo Hernández and Francisco Javier Rodríguez García, who have joined together in the Villa de Tegueste Livestock Association (AGUAVITE). They are supported by local authorities.
The mayor of the city, Norberto Padilla, says that the "firefighter sheep" are very cool, and Tegueste was the first on the island of Tenerife to do this. "We are betting on simple, profitable and environmentally friendly solutions. Sheep not only prevent fires, but also help our farmers, preserve nature and make our city cleaner. We want this project to be an example for the whole island."
Julián Rodríguez, who is responsible for environmental protection, adds that it is important to look for effective ways to take care of nature, especially in such a valuable place as the Anaga Reserve. "If there is a fire here, we will lose one of the most important treasures of the Canary Islands. We cannot allow this to happen," he says.
"Firefighter sheep" are not just a good idea, but a real help. Each sheep eats 4-5 kilograms of dry grass every day, which is ideal fuel for a fire in the hot months. What is a weed to us is a delicacy to them!
José Luis García Ángel, head of AGUAVITE, emphasizes that this work benefits the environment. "Sheep do their job - they eat the problem. We need help to hire someone to look after the livestock and clear the tall bushes that the sheep cannot reach. This way we can prevent fires."
This project started after a major fire in Tenerife in the summer of 2023. It was very dry and hot then. Farmers Trujillo and Rodríguez decided to release their sheep to forage, as they had already done on the island of Gran Canaria. Since then, the sheep have been roaming the roads and ravines in various areas, helping to clear the area.
"Every place we clean becomes safer," says Francisco Javier Rodríguez. "We learned from our colleagues in Gran Canaria, where this method is already working well. There, the herds have GPS, and the shepherds are paid for every hectare of grazed land. We want to achieve the same level here."
The main goal is to make grazing a part of the state policy for the protection of rural areas and forests. That is why Europe has even launched the "More Grazing, Less Fire" campaign.
Local residents are very happy with this solution. They like that the sheep help protect their land and that old traditions are being revived.
Thanks to this project, Tegueste is becoming an example for other cities of how to protect nature in simple and effective ways. "Firefighter sheep" are not just grazing, they are working, cleaning and protecting our common wealth - nature.