Shepherding for Wildfire Adaptation: A Case Study of Two Grazing Management Techniques in the Mediterranean Basin

Abstract

The risk of larger, more intense, and more frequent wildfires is growing across the world, especially in the Mediterranean Basin and regions of the world characterized by dry, hot summers, fire-prone and fire-adapted vegetation, and a build-up of fire fuels. These increased wildfire risks point toward a need for more effective and multi-beneficial management techniques. This paper explores two techniques aimed at reducing wildfire risk and bolstering wildfire adaptation through the act of shepherding: 1) "Fire Flocking," a technique that employs the rotational grazing of animals in overgrown forests to reduce fuel loads and create a bio-based economy, and 2) "Infrastructure Shadowing," a technique that develops a grazing program under high voltage power lines to reduce the risk of ignition. The study employs a descriptive case study methodology that combines a comprehensive literature review, stakeholder interviews, and spatial analysis; and evaluates the two cases to ascertain technical successes and challenges. While grazing systems are complex and have many variables needing to be considered, findings from the study suggest that creative and strategically designed grazing practices can slow the spread and decrease the intensity of wildfire events in a cost-effective manner, create desired habitats by developing mosaic-like landscape patches, and increase wildfire awareness. While it is clear that more experimentation should be done to explore how grazing can reduce wildfire risk, this study reveals the potential of multifunctional land stewardship practices to foster regenerative, evolutionary pathways with wildfire.