Study finds Sorraia horse grazing cuts wildfire risk in Côa Valley

A three-year study in Portugal's Greater Côa Valley found that grazing by semi-wild Sorraia horses lowers wildfire risk and boosts biodiversity in Mediterranean landscapes. Researchers compared grazed and fenced-off control plots in two rewilding areas, Vale Carapito and Ermo das Águias, finding horses reduced grass height and volume but had little effect on woody, flammable vegetation. They suggest combining several herbivore species, such as horses, deer and cattle, would be more effective. The study, published in Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution, also recorded more flowering plants, organic soil matter and native tree growth, and involved MARETEC-Lisbon, Rewilding Portugal, Rewilding Europe and Scotland's Rural College.