Sheep to combat climate change

By  Blanca Casares, Dehesas and Montados in the Iberian Peninsula project

Asociación Trashumancia y Naturaleza collaborated with the city council of Madrid to organise the annual Fiesta de la Trashumancia Madrid 2019 (Transhumance Festival)—which saw 1800 sheep and 200 goats pass through the centre of Spain’s capital city. Madrid sits on an ancient migration route (drover road) where shepherds would move their livestock south for the winter. The event, now in its 26th year, was successful in creating awareness on the importance of maintaining this ancestral practice of which Spain is a global example and that is a very valuable tool in the fight against climate change and rural depopulation, among other benefits. The herd crossing in Madrid, which took place on 20 October 2019, was complemented with a weekend of workshops, debates, food tastings, music performances for children and adults, and a market showcasing over 30 producers. More than 4600 people visited the gallery where these activities were held.

The market

32 exhibitors offered “products with value” related to grazing, transhumance and the rural ecosystems and economies that it supports. Items from dehesas and other natural pastures included 100% Iberian Torbiscal pork from Paraje de la Morra farm in Los Pedroches (Córdoba), meat products and sausages from Mundos Nuevos dehesa in Extremadura, De Yerba grass meat  and products from the herd of the Casa de Campo de Apisquillos.

Other products on display include natural cosmetics by Vivencia Dehesa, artisan and unique cheeses (with products from 10 cheese makers and more than 30 varieties of selected cheese), wool products made from our national Merino wool sheep (black and white merino blankets, 100% wool fleece, felt figures, wool socks, skeins and more), and other organic and locally produced items, such as olive oil from grazed olive trees, eggs, honey, bread, natural wines and pottery. Additionally, exhibition stands were also set up, among others by Spanish Pasture Society to feature publications related to pastures and the society’s work, and by the Spanish coalition PorOtraPAC, in line with the Good Food Good Farming Campaign, led by WWF Spain and SEO Birdlife.

What did we discuss?

Over the weekend, interactive and exciting sessions were held to bring to the public the importance of pastoralism, transhumance for society as a whole, the rural environment, ecosystems and the landscape. Eco La Osa delivered a presentation on their cooperative supermarket project, the first ecological cooperative market in Madrid, and the Observatory for a Culture of the Territory moderated a debate on other consumption models.  In another debate, a panel of 8 women presented experiences in the rural world and inspired us to find solutions together for the challenges that women in rural areas face: depopulation, lack of services, generational change, pollution, climate and environmental crisis, etc.

The workshops

As follows is the list of workshops and demonstrations held over the weekend:

  • Wool workshops with Almudena Sánchez (of Laneras de Extremadura) on how to work the felt, create circular looms and design mini sheep figures;
  • Ceramic workshop by Carmen Novez;
  • Workshop on the construction of traditional pastoral musical instruments by Luis Paíno;
  • Traditional music workshop with Entresierras;
  • Workshop of traditional dances and jotas from La Mancha with Paula Rodriguez;
  • Childrens workshop on “Birds and transhumance”;
  • Storytelling with Elia Tralará;

In addition, tastings and other activities related to quality food offered visitors a chance to learn about the large variety of local products:

  • Workshop on pastoral dishes was run by chef Eva López, who delighted visitors with migas, and demonstrated how to make traditional pastoral gazpacho. In addition, pastoral recipes were shared for attendees to try their hands at making the dishes at home;
  • Natural wine tasting with Rural Essence;
  • Workshop on artisan bread by Amasa;
  • Learn and taste workshop on artisan cheeses by QueRed (Spanish Network for Field Cheese and Crafts).

Additionally, visitors were entertained at a music concert by Entresierras, showcasing renowned singer and songwriter Clara Montes, and Jose Luís Montón on guitar. The weekend ended with the symbolic payment of the Maravedis, as inscribed in an institutional act, to the mayor by herders for going through Madrid.

ATyN is a leading partner of the Dehesas & Montados in the Iberian Peninsula pilot site project that aims to to consolidate examples of integrated sustainable management in dehesas and montados as cultural landscapes, based on their capacity to provide ecosystem services and enhance biodiversity.

 

Some sources in English: 

Photos: Blanca Casares, Susana Cabañero @scabanero, and Pedro Alvera @pedroalvera