The Gran Canaria Island Council has launched a call for applications for incentives in 2026 aimed at protecting and supporting transhumance on foot, a vital measure for shepherds in the southern midlands of the island. These grants, with an initial fund of €30.000, seek to prevent the disappearance of this intangible cultural heritage in key areas such as the Risco Caído Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site.
In the case of southern Gran Canaria, the initiative directly benefits livestock farmers whose animals graze in the high and mid-altitude areas of the municipalities of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Mogán, which are part of the protected area of the Biosphere Reserve. The aim is to compensate the shepherds who maintain the tradition of moving livestock on foot, thus contributing to the clearing of the mountains and the prevention of forest fires in the Gran Canaria highlands.
The subsidy establishes a maximum of €3.000 per beneficiary, structured in two aid packages: A base payment of €1.000 is granted simply for owning a farm with at least 40 head of livestock. In addition, an extra €500 is awarded for years of experience in the activity and another €500 for generational succession, rewarding owners under 45 years of age. This variable amount depends on the length of time the livestock remains away from their main pasture. Shepherds who practice transhumance for more than three months will be eligible for the maximum amount in this package.
To access these funds, applicants must meet strict requirements, such as being registered in the Canary Islands Livestock Farm Registry (REGAC), having valid animal health transport certificates, and, if grazing on public land, possessing the corresponding license. Furthermore, the activity outside the main farm must last at least one month cumulatively. The deadline for submitting applications is twenty business days, starting next Monday. This support program not only provides economic relief for the primary sector in the midlands but also reinforces the island council's commitment to maintaining a cultural landscape that defines the identity of the rural areas of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Mogán.
