Why Grazing is Now a Disaster Prevention Measure—The Forefront of "Horses × Forest Management" from Spain: Low-Cost Disaster Prevention in the Era of Climate Crisis

A recent study conducted in Catalonia, Spain, has demonstrated that horses possess "dietary flexibility," allowing them to selectively consume not only grass but also woody plants depending on the situation. This ability enables them to gradually reduce forest fuels, ranging from fine herbaceous plants to coarse shrubs. The study examined three cases: semi-free-ranging Przewalski's horses, continuously grazing Pottoka horses, and short-term high-density crossbred horses. Through microscopic analysis of 50 fresh dung samples and statistical modeling, the research illustrated how dietary habits shift based on season, resources, and management methods. During periods of grass abundance, horses consume fine fuels (grasses), and when these resources are depleted, they transition to shrubs (such as juniper and pistachio), contributing to the maintenance of mosaic landscapes and the management of understory vegetation. The findings suggest that horses could complement existing "fire prevention grazing" practices, which have primarily relied on sheep and goats, offering a more sustainable approach to forest management. However, the long-term quantitative effects of fuel reduction remain a subject for future research. Interest in "rewilding horses for fire prevention" is growing in related local projects, media reports, and on social media.