Collserola shepherd David Barrero continues his vital forest management work within the park’s African swine fever ‘ground zero’ zone, defying significant restrictions.
Every morning, the official shepherd leaves his Carmel neighbourhood to tend his flock of 402 sheep and 25 goats, a professional activity still permitted under strict biosecurity protocols.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
The natural park, once bustling with runners and cyclists, has transformed into a restricted area where only essential work like his silvopasture continues.
Collserola Shepherd Balances Economic Need With Ecological Duty
Barrero is no ordinary shepherd; he is the park’s sole official contractor, having won the tender in 2023 with a mandate running until 2027. His mission involves forest cleaning, clearing undergrowth, and silvopasture to reduce wildfire risk. Consequently, his animals consume vegetation, maintaining the ecosystem’s balance and protecting nearby communities. “If I didn’t graze here, the park would have a real problem,” he explains. “Vegetation would grow uncontrolled and fire risk would increase.”
The economic reality underpins his determination. Barrero calculates he needs €400 daily to feed his flock, amounting to roughly €12,400 monthly. A grazing ban would therefore devastate his livelihood. Moreover, he argues the park itself needs this cleaning service. This delicate balance between economic survival and environmental stewardship defines his daily reality within the high-risk perimeter.
Military-Style Biosecurity Defines New Daily Routine
His daily routine now resembles a military operation, incorporating rigorous disinfection to prevent disease spread. Before entering the high-risk municipalities of Cerdanyola del Vallès, Sant Cugat, and Montcada i Reixac, he uses a disinfection kit provided by the park and supervised by the Military Emergency Unit (UME). He sprays his vehicle’s tyres, cleans his footwear, and inspects the animals meticulously. Each calculated gesture aims to minimise any risk of him becoming an accidental disease vector.
These restrictions have other profound impacts. He cannot leave the affected municipalities or transfer his flock to non-affected areas like Osona or Empordà. This limitation forces him to concentrate all work and income within the risk zone, with no flexibility to seek better conditions elsewhere. The land, meanwhile, shows widespread signs of wild boar activity, the primary carriers of the disease, with disturbed earth visible almost everywhere.
Official Collserola Shepherd Navigates Bureaucracy And Support
Navigating this crisis involves friction and cooperation. Barrero criticises some rural agents for “making work difficult” with bureaucratic pressure alongside health restrictions. However, he simultaneously highlights strong support from local police, praising their on-ground presence and coordination at park access points. Furthermore, he expresses being “super grateful” for the UME’s work, which has established control and disinfection checkpoints throughout the area.
Thus, surrounded by sheep, goats, boar-disturbed earth, and health controls, David Barrero enters Collserola each day. His work exists at the intersection of economic necessity, forest management, and disease containment. He operates with the conviction that, in this context, shepherding is neither a luxury nor a romantic tradition. Instead, it is a crucial component of the machinery keeping the territory functional and safe, a point underscored by the broader environmental pressures facing the region. According to the original report in El Periódico, his story exemplifies the complex challenges of managing public land during a biological crisis.
Stay connected with us on social media for the latest updates and news!
TikTok | Instagram | YouTube | X
Source: Read original article
