In Tenerife, a unique initiative using a herd of goats to prevent wildfires is proving to be an effective ecological measure. Eulalio Domínguez, a local livestock farmer, has employed his herd of 70 goats to graze on approximately 300 kilograms of vegetation each afternoon in the high-risk fire zones of La Esperanza, including areas like Peñafiel, El Poleo, and La Montañeta.
This method of using goats to naturally manage vegetation reduces the potential spread of wildfires by consuming underbrush that could fuel fires. The Town Hall of El Rosario has recognized the significant preventive impact of Domínguez’s herd, especially as the summer wildfire season approaches.

The initiative is part of a broader municipal strategy aimed at utilizing the natural grazing behaviors of livestock to maintain the interface areas and ravines of the upper municipality, particularly in La Esperanza and Las Barreras. This strategy extends to private properties where owners have permitted the entry of animals as a way to maintain rural lands near mountains and prevent severe fire consequences in populated areas.
Mayor Escolástico Gil of El Rosario emphasized the traditional role of livestock in maintaining clear land to prevent fires, noting the increased risk due to the growing number of abandoned and uncultivated lands. He commended the efforts of shepherds like Eulalio Domínguez and Hilario Barrios, whose work helps protect critical areas from fire.

Additionally, the municipality recently approved an ordinance for the cleaning, fencing, and securing of plots in rural areas adjacent to woodlands, aimed at enhancing fire safety. This regulatory measure is part of El Rosario’s comprehensive Municipal Action Plan for Forest Fire Risk, making it the first in the Canary Islands to adopt such a proactive approach, developed in collaboration with the University of La Laguna’s Chair of Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilient Cities.