Goats from the Algarve help preserve the Park of Pena through sustainable vegetation management

From this week onwards, the Sintra Hills have a rather unconventional, but highly effective, team helping to preserve the landscape and biodiversity. Two goats and a buck of Algarve have been placed near the Park of Pena to contribute to the natural control of vegetation and the reduction of forest fuel load.

The initiative, promoted by Parques de Sintra – Monte da Lua, forms part of the sustainability, nature conservation and resilient landscape management strategy that the company has been developing in the natural spaces under its responsibility. In the case of the Park of Pena, one of the country’s most emblematic heritage and landscape spaces, this measure reinforces a more natural, preventive and environmentally responsible management approach.

The project uses targeted herbivory, a practice that employs herbivorous animals in a controlled and supervised manner to support land management. In this context, the goats feed on shrubs, shoots and spontaneous vegetation, including woody invasive species that threaten the ecological balance of the ornamental woodland of the Park of Pena. This action helps reduce vegetation density, encourage the regeneration of native species and lower the risk of fire.

Unlike exclusively mechanical or chemical methods, targeted herbivory offers significant environmental advantages. The process reduces soil disturbance, avoids the use of herbicides, decreases the need for heavy machinery and contributes to more continuous and balanced ecosystem management. It is therefore a solution inspired by traditional practices yet aligned with the current challenges of sustainable landscape management.

In addition to the environmental component, the presence of these animals also constitutes a distinctive element in the visitor experience at the Park of Pena. At certain times, visitors will be able to observe the animals at work, strengthening the link between heritage, nature and traditional landscape management practices. Their presence will also help raise public awareness of issues such as biodiversity, fire prevention, habitat conservation and sustainability.

The animals’ welfare will be ensured daily by specialised keepers, who will be responsible for their feeding, health care and monitoring, guaranteeing that the entire operation takes place safely, in a controlled manner and responsibly.

João Sousa Rego, Chair of the Board of Directors of Parques de Sintra, states that ‘this is another measure included in Parques de Sintra’s strategy to strengthen environmental sustainability, climate resilience and the active management of the natural spaces under its responsibility.’ ‘The company intends to continue developing this model, progressively assessing its extension to other forest and landscape areas where targeted herbivory can contribute to more effective vegetation management,’ João Sousa Rego emphasises.

Combining tradition, innovation and environmental conservation, the project demonstrates how simple, ancestral solutions can play a relevant role in responding to the contemporary challenges of protecting natural heritage and preserving the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.