Meixide Model Village: Incorporation of young farmers for reduction of forest fires
About this good practice
In 2020, the land owners of Meixide, in A Veiga (Ourense), decided to manage their lands in common and create the "Meixide Model Village", a project aimed to reduce the abandonment and reactivating their land in collaboration with Gandería Cotado and with the support of the municipality. This Model Village covers 72 hectares, with 646 plots and 151 committed owners, however, only 10 people live there nowadays.
On the other hand, there is a farm in the village, the Ganderia Cotado, that combines extensive organic farming with a sustainable approach, helping to revitalize the rural area by using native breeds. The model village project has brought great benefits to both, because the farm uses these lands and the owners charge a rent from them.
This collaboration opened up other new opportunities to public aids for technological improvements, such as cattle locators, which help you to know where the cows are grazing. In addition, some houses and the village were restored, favoring the return of habitants and attracting investors interested in establishing new businesses, making Meixide a more attractive destination for rural tourism in Galicia.
Currently, the Model Village continues to generate jobs in new businesses planned in the area, contributing to the stabilization of the population and the reduction of the risk of fires through a productive use of land. Meixide's shows how community collaboration can revitalize rural areas.
Resources needed
Regional Government participate with its own staff as well as other subcontractors and invested €149,762.17 of EAFRD Funds, for different activities: Meetings with owners, property research, productive development plan design, activities such as clearings or perimeter closures for livestock.
Evidence of success
A job was created, however they hope to create more jobs as they open new businesses in the village.
They work with 151 owners, who each signed their transfer agreement, which allowed the management of 72 hectares for farming. Achieving that some lands that were in a state of abandonment could be revitalized.
In addition, as evidence of success, it should be noted that since this management has been carried out, no fires have occurred in the area of the model village.
Potential for learning or transfer
The Model Village of Meixide exemplifies a model of rural revitalization with great learning and transfer potential for others facing depopulation and land abandonment. Its success in recovering 72 hectares through a collaboration between public administration, local farmers and communities highlights how a sustainable agricultural management focused on extensive and ecological livestock can generate jobs, reactivate or productive use of the soil and reduce the risk of fires.
This good practice not only opens up economic opportunities for a local population, but also facilitates the attraction of investments and the implementation of technological innovations in rural environments. The replication in other areas, of the Meixide model allows adapting its principles of community cooperation and agricultural exploitation to various local realities, promoting integral and self-sustainable development in the rural environment.
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