Prat rice fields: ecosystems to prevent fires and feed birds

Thanks to our successful experience in the Desert de Les Palmes Natural Park using agro-ecological models as firebreak crops, we are encouraged to recover the old rice fields of Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca in order to create a firebreak area to face possible fires that are repeated year after year.

The recovery of the rice fields will diversify the landscape, creating new feeding and resting areas for the migratory birds that use the wetlands as stopover, feeding or wintering areas.

It should be noted that this innovative initiative, as well as meeting the objectives of fire prevention, benefits the fauna, diversifies habitats and provides a strong cultural memory for the local residents, by resuming old agricultural practices abandoned more than 30 years ago.

In order for the project to be sustainable over time, we are working on the creation of a land stewardship network, agreements with landowners on natural areas to carry out joint actions that make production and conservation compatible.