‹ Back

 

Altea turns to “firefighter sheep” to protect Sierra de Bernia from wildfires

 

Altea / 7 May 2026

 

Altea is once again using an increasingly popular Mediterranean wildfire prevention method: targeted grazing by so-called “firefighter sheep.”

 

For the third consecutive year, the town council has launched a preventative grazing programme in the Sierra de Bernia, using around 150 native Guirra sheep to naturally clear dry vegetation before the peak summer fire season begins.

 

Natural firebreaks in high-risk areas

The flock, owned by local shepherd Joan Ripoll “Vixac,” is being deployed around the Calces Pine Forest area — a popular hiking zone and environmentally sensitive part of the Bernia mountains.

 

Officials say the sheep reduce wildfire risk by consuming dry undergrowth and creating natural firebreaks that help slow the spread of flames during extreme heat and wind conditions.

 

The approach is increasingly being adopted in parts of Spain, Portugal, Greece, and southern France as authorities look for lower-impact alternatives to heavy mechanical clearing.

 

Combining tradition with climate adaptation

Altea’s Environment Department says the initiative is designed not only to reduce fire danger, but also to restore traditional land management practices that have declined in recent decades.

 

Experts have repeatedly warned that abandoned rural land and unmanaged vegetation are major factors behind the growing intensity of Mediterranean wildfires linked to climate change.

 

By reintroducing grazing, municipalities can:

• Lower vegetation density naturally
• Improve biodiversity
• Reduce erosion and environmental damage
• Maintain historic rural landscapes
• Protecting heritage as well as forests

 

 

As part of the project, the council has also restored the historic “sester” shelter along Camí del Forat — a traditional dry-stone livestock refuge once used by shepherds in the area.

 

The restoration was carried out using traditional construction techniques and partly funded through support from the Alicante Provincial Council.

 

Rising costs despite environmental benefits

Local officials say maintaining the programme now costs around €8,000 annually, including livestock transport and upkeep, with some funding gaps requiring direct municipal support.

 

Despite this, the council argues the long-term environmental and economic benefits far outweigh the costs, especially when compared with the damage caused by major summer wildfires.

 

Growing model across the Costa Blanca

Controlled grazing projects have become increasingly common across inland areas of the Costa Blanca, where hotter summers and prolonged drought conditions continue to increase wildfire risk.

 

Altea’s “firefighter sheep” initiative is now being viewed as a model of how traditional rural practices can play a modern role in climate resilience and sustainable land management.