The herds against the fire

The landscape of the Alpilles has been shaped by centuries of grazing. In the mountains, sheep and goat flocks or cattle herds all play an important part in the maintenance of the natural area: by eating the grass and some of the tree sprouts and shrubs, they slow down the overrunning. The area thus remains open and grasslands are maintained. This practice helps to protect the forest against fire and the preservation of the Mediterranean biodiversity.