How a team of 250 goats are helping prevent wildfires in Javea

An unlikely team of 250 goats is being brought in to help tackle one of the Costa Blanca’s biggest summer threats: wildfires.

The animals have returned to the natural surroundings of Javea’s Montgó area as part of a grazing project designed to reduce vegetation and limit the amount of combustible material available if a fire breaks out.

The initiative revives a traditional form of land management while giving it a modern purpose: helping protect the landscape and nearby homes from the risk of devastating wildfires.

Goats become a natural fire prevention team

The 250 goats are being used to manage vegetation, particularly around areas where woodland and urban development meet.

By feeding on scrub and other vegetation, the animals naturally reduce the amount of plant material that could act as fuel during a wildfire.

The project follows a pilot scheme launched in January to assess the potential of controlled grazing as a forest-management and fire-prevention measure.

Following that initial trial, the programme is now being continued as part of Javea’s wider approach to wildfire prevention.

The goats are not simply released into the countryside. Their movements are controlled and supervised, with grazing areas carefully selected to ensure the project delivers environmental benefits without damaging sensitive habitats.

Protecting the Montgó

Reducing vegetation is only one part of the project. Protecting the biodiversity of the Montgó remains a key priority.

The grazing programme is being carried out under the supervision of the Montgó Natural Park, with particularly sensitive areas excluded from the goats’ routes.

This includes flora micro-reserves and areas containing protected plant species, helping to ensure that the animals’ presence does not negatively affect the ecosystems the project aims to protect.

The initiative brings together Javea Town Hall, Creama, the Montgó Natural Park and the livestock sector.

An old idea with a modern purpose

The return of grazing to the landscape reflects a growing interest in traditional farming methods as a tool for modern environmental management.

Extensive grazing can help reduce the quantity of vegetation available to fuel a wildfire. While goats cannot stop fires from starting, managing the landscape in this way can help reduce the amount of combustible material present before an emergency occurs.

The project could also be extended to other parts of Javea if the approach continues to prove effective.

For residents and visitors, the sight of 250 goats moving through the Montgó may be unusual, but their role is a serious one.

By turning a traditional agricultural practice into a natural form of vegetation management, Javea is using the animals as an additional tool to help protect its homes, countryside and treasured natural landscape from wildfire.