How native livestock is reducing the risk of wildfires in Spain’s Galicia region

In Spain’s Galicia region, native goats, sheep, and cows are helping local communities reduce the risk of wildfires by grazing on flammable undergrowth.The initiative has gained momentum in an area hit hard by Spain’s worst wildfire year in 2025, where nearly 119,00 hectares of land burned, an area spanning roughly double the size of Madrid. The animals include the Cachena, a native goat-like cow known for its ability to forage widely and traverse the region’s mountainous terrain.