Payment for Targeted Grazing: Integrating Local Shepherds into Wildfire Prevention

Abstract

Wildfires are one of the most prominent risks for Mediterranean forests, reducing the flow of ecosystem services and representing a hazard for infrastructure and human lives. Several wildfire prevention programs in southern Europe are currently incorporating extensive livestock grazers in fire prevention activities to reduce the high costs of mechanical clearance. Among these the Andalusian network of grazed fuel breaks, the so-called RAPCA program, stands out for its dimension and stability over time. RAPCA currently works with 220 local shepherds who, with their guided flocks maintain low biomass levels in almost 6000 ha of fuel breaks in public forests to meet fire prevention standards. This work analyses the institutional design and performance of the RAPCA payment scheme under a payment for environmental services (PES) framework. Results show effectiveness of the payment scheme while efficiency is achieved through savings relative to the mainstream mechanized biomass removal, as well as through reduced information asymmetry. High-level and stable political commitment has been crucial for the emergence and consolidation of RAPCA. Moreover, key intermediaries and sound monitoring practices increased levels of trust amongst involved actors. Beneficial side-effects include social recognition of shepherds’ activities and reduction of their friction with forest managers.

Climate Change Impacts on Pinus pinea L. Silvicultural System for Cone Production and Ways to Contour Those Impacts: A Review Complemented with Data from Permanent Plots

“…If the slope is low, another technic to reduce erosion is by implementing a permanent grass land (pasture) [168,169] which has a high rainfall infiltration [170], having the second lowest soil rate loss from CORINE land cover classes [171]. Furthermore, several wildfire prevention programs in southern Europe are currently incorporating extensive livestock grazers in-fire prevention activities to reduce the high costs of mechanical clearance [172].…”

Alternative Approaches of Summer Milk Sales from Transhumant Sheep and Goat Farms: A Case Study from Northern Greece

“…Agro-pastoral (and transhumant) farmers are not remunerated for the ES that they provide to society [21,22] through the market prices they receive for their products [35]. Targeted policy frameworks have been proposed to counterbalance such market failures, namely the 'Payments for Ecosystem Services' in Spain [36,37], or even more generic ones, such as Pillar II measures of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) regarding protected areas, mountainous areas, organic farming etc. However, the implementation of such measures in Greece has been rather generic, not targeting transhumance and its particular issues [38], or has increased the dependence of these farms on policy support, rendering them more vulnerable to changes [39].…”

Beyond the obvious impact of domestic livestock grazing on temperate forest vegetation – A global review

“… It has also found value as a silvicultural tool for supressing competitive herbaceous and woody species in plantations , and in controlling invasive woody species .  It can have an important role in fire mitigation, reducing the flammability of forests through reducing the combustible load of the forest understorey (McEvoy et al, 2006b, Varela et al, 2018, representing a potential management tool in the context of increasing incidence of extreme forest fires as an outcome of climate change.  Forest grazing may also generate income for farmers through the sale of animals or meat, thus helping to support local livelihoods and communities (Kingery and Graham, 1991;, Rois-Díaz et al, 2018.…”