Bison, being herbivores, can reduce the risk of large fires by reducing flammable vegetation
And who would have thought that a bison can save nature and the lives of hundreds of animals and men? Yet it all seems true. In Portugal they want to prevent fires, with the arrival of the scorching summer heat, by adopting all possible prevention systems. The most original method was revealed in recent days and has aroused a lot of curiosity.
The first herd of European bison originally from Poland has arrived on a farm in the province of Castelo Branco. The initiative is from Rewilding Portugal, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote nature conservation through “rewilding” techniques “restoration” of ecosystems. “As a key and emblematic species of the rewilding movement – reads the association’s press release -, the European bison has the potential to be a climate and biodiversity hero“. The bison in Portugal is almost an absolute novelty, given that the last indigenous specimens became extinct 10 thousand years ago.
There is a reason why it was decided to carry out this seemingly bizarre operation: being large herbivores, bison can reduce the risk of large fires through reduction of flammable vegetation and the creation of natural firebreaks, with the opening of forest patches that allow more light to enter and grass to grow in place of the thick brush.
