In an effort to maintain a sustainable agroforestry mosaic in the Barcelona region, the Provincial Council has delivered twenty water troughs to the forest owners' associations of Berguedà Verd, Gavarresa-Moianès, Lluçanès, and Serra de Bellmunt.

This initiative is part of the project "Smart forest management: fire prevention infrastructures to protect natural resources and produce biomass", under the BCN Smart Rural programme. The water troughs will provide essential water sources for the livestock that play a role in fire prevention in Priority Management Areas.

The troughs, intended for cattle, goats, and sheep, have been installed on farms where forest improvement work has been carried out to enhance grazing. Providing these water sources is essential to ensure the sustainability of the agrosilvopastoral sector in the region.

The abandonment of many agricultural areas, leading to the expansion of unmanaged forest land, increases the risk of wildfires. In response, public sector intervention is necessary to promote active forest management, recover former farmland that has turned into scrubland and grasslands, and reintroduce grazing herds into the forest.

To achieve these objectives, the BCN Smart Rural project includes four key actions aimed at establishing a biodiverse agroforestry mosaic, strategically managed to prevent wildfires, increase the added value of agricultural enterprises, and promote the production of high-quality food. Co-financed by Barcelona Provincial Council and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the programme aims to boost extensive livestock farming and enhance the value of meat and milk from free-range animals.

With the delivery of these troughs, Barcelona Provincial Council reaffirms its commitment to extensive livestock farming as a key activity in wildfire prevention. This initiative marks another step towards building a sustainable and intelligent rural development strategy, offering concrete solutions to current challenges and proposing future lines of action. It is an example of how innovation and applied knowledge can contribute to environmental protection and local economic development.

For more information about this initiative, please contact Pere Navarro, engineer at the Territorial Agrarian Directorate of the Barcelona Provincial Council.
 

— BCN Smart Rural Editorial —