GPS Collars for Mountain Pasture Monitoring in Serra do Alvão

In the Serra do Alvão, Portugal, the 'Rebanhos +' and LIFE Maronesa projects use GPS-collared goats and Maronesa cattle to manage undergrowth, prevent forest fires, and restore degraded lands. Real-time location data from collars, transmitted every 30 minutes via the Digitanimal app, supports efficient herding and pasture monitoring. The initiative enhances silvopastoral systems, combats poor network coverage with sigFox repeaters, and promotes sustainable extensive farming. Coordinated by AguiarFloresta with partners including the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança and Casal da Bouça farm, the projects support the EU-protected Maronesa breed and aim to modernise pastoralism until 2025.