top of page

What is Spain’s elite goat and sheep firefighting brigade?

How much does the team of Spain’s elite goat and sheep firefighting brigade earn?



What is Spain’s elite goat and sheep firefighting brigade? - portugal news
What is Spain’s elite goat and sheep firefighting brigade? - Portugal Business News



Portugal news - What is Spain’s elite goat and sheep firefighting brigade? How much does the team of Spain’s elite goat and sheep firefighting brigade earn?


Spain has an elite goat and sheep firefighting brigade that operates under the Coordinator of Farmers and Ranchers Organizations (COAG) of Andalusia.


With the increasing frequency of heatwaves and forest fires, Spain has put into operation its elite goat and sheep firefighting brigade whose mission is fire prevention. This elite flock, that is comprised of over 3 million members of sheep and goats, is deployed in the Spanish region of Andalusia to carry out strategic work for the prevention of deadly forest fires.



What is the mission of Spain’s goat and sheep firefighting brigade?


Spain’s elite goat and sheep firefighting brigade operates under the command of COAG Andalucía, and their mission is to prevent fires in rural areas. The elite goat and sheep firefighting teams go on strategic missions to graze as much plant biomass as possible before the dry season occurs and, with it, the accumulation of layers of fuel ready to burn and devour thousands of hectares of forests.


Elite adult firefighting goats can graze upon 1.5 to 2.5 kg of dry grass per day, while elite adult firefighting sheep can graze upon 2 to 3 kg of dry matter daily, including scrub and woody species. The goat and sheep vigilantes operate in teams to clear rural areas of combustible material.



How much does the team of Spain’s elite goat and sheep firefighting brigade earn?


Members of Spain’s elite goat and sheep firefighting brigade work for the Network of Pasture-Firewall Areas of Andalusia (RAPCA). Spain’s goat and sheep firefighters are comprised of 100,000 individuals that operate on over 5,700 hectares.


Spain’s Ministry of Sustainable Development allocates more than 620,000 Euros for the deployment of the elite goat and sheep firefighting brigade operatives under the Network of Pasture-Firewall Areas of Andalusia.



Is Spain’s goat and sheep firefighting brigade effective?


Spain’s elite goat and sheep firefighting brigade maintains firebreak areas, causing cleared areas around forests that effectively prevent the spread of fires. Thanks to the goat and sheep firefighting brigade, fires are not only prevented, but when they occur, they are smaller and easier to control and extinguish.


Spain’s COAG, that manages the elite team of goat and sheep firefighters, claims that Spain cannot reduce fire management to a reactive strategy when fires are already widespread, and insists that a strategic grazing team is vital for fire prevention. COAG Andalucía has been advocating about the importance of valuing the work of the members of goat and sheep firefighting brigade.



Here is a video of Spain’s elite goat and sheep firefighting brigade:






#COAG #RAPCA













bottom of page