Maronesa cows help prevent rural fires in Vila Pouca de Aguiar

REN – Redes Energéticas Nacionais, AguiarFloresta and the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB) have launched a fuel management project using silvopastoralism with Maronesa cattle, on land adjacent to the Vila Pouca de Aguiar substation, with the aim of helping to prevent rural fires, increasing the resilience of the facility and ensuring sustainable land management.

The initiative is based on the creation of an Animal Forest Brigade, comprising around 40 Maronesa cows — a native breed of the Marão, Alvão and Padrela mountain ranges — which will manage the vegetation across an area of approximately 6.5 hectares. In the initial phase, it is estimated that the animals will consume approximately 33 tonnes of vegetation per year, helping to reduce the fuel load.

AguiarFloresta is responsible for the implementation and operational management of the extensive grazing model, as well as for coordination with the local area. The Polytechnic Institute of Bragança provides scientific oversight by monitoring environmental impacts and assessing the effectiveness of this fuel management system. The project also includes comparative studies and training initiatives aimed at livestock farmers and local communities.

According to Mónica Conceição, Director of Operations at REN, this project demonstrates how REN integrates nature-based solutions into the management of its infrastructure, working in partnership with local authorities and academia to promote structural prevention of rural fires and strengthen the resilience of our infrastructure.

For Duarte Marques, head of AguiarFloresta, “silvopastoralism with Maronesa cattle is an effective and sustainable land management solution that values native breeds and local knowledge. This project shows that it is possible to reconcile fire prevention, conservation and rural development through partnerships rooted in the local area”.

Carlos Aguiar, from the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, points out that “the scientific monitoring of this project allows for a rigorous assessment of its environmental impacts and the effectiveness of the fuel management model, contributing to the production of applied knowledge and the development of solutions with the potential for replication”.

As part of the project, plant species more suited to grazing have been introduced, improving the quality of the pasture and reinforcing its role in fire prevention. Support infrastructure, such as feeding troughs and water troughs, has also been installed, ensuring the necessary conditions for animal management.

This project forms part of REN’s strategy to enhance and promote nature-based solutions in land management, prioritising initiatives developed in partnership with local communities and with the potential for application in other contexts.