A collaboration agreement between the Ovihuec project and Endesa will validate a forest management model based on extensive livestock farming. The primary goal is to reduce the risk of forest fires and improve the reliability of the electrical supply in high mountain areas. The herd, comprising over 250 animals, represents a commitment to public management focused on prevention, biodiversity enhancement, and the restoration of the agroforestry mosaic.
Sheep are responsible for managing grass growth, while goats control undergrowth and shrubs, tasks crucial for fire prevention. This grazing method sustainably reduces vegetation load, complementing conventional mechanical clearing and selective logging.
To optimize herd management, advanced technology such as geolocation systems and virtual fencing is employed. Vilamòs is the only municipality in Spain using smart collars from three different providers simultaneously to assess their performance in high mountain environments. These devices are being tested on sheep, goats, and guardian mastiff dogs.
The mayor of Vilamòs and Innovation Councilor of the Conselh Generau d’Aran, Oriol Sala, highlighted that "extensive livestock farming serves a landscape management function" and that the agreement signifies "an important step in demonstrating the value of prevention through the maintenance of vegetation under power lines by the herd".
The Ovihuec project, scientifically led by the IRTA, aims to verify the viability of extensive livestock farming as an undergrowth management tool. Antoni Dalmau, an animal welfare researcher at IRTA, emphasized the project's value in combining scientific knowledge, technology, and territorial management, studying not only the impact on vegetation and fire prevention but also animal behavior and welfare.
Endesa's involvement integrates extensive livestock farming into its preventive forest management strategy in Catalonia. This pilot initiative is significant for the company, as over 53,000 kilometers of overhead lines in Catalonia run through vegetated areas. José Moreno, head of the electrical distribution network in Lleida for Endesa, described the Ovihuec model as "an innovative and complementary solution to conventional maintenance".
