In the heart of the Collserola Natural Park, the sound of bells and the murmur of animals in the morning mark the beginning of the day for David Barrero. From his neighborhood in Carmel, he traverses a sleeping Barcelona until he reaches a scene different from the usual. The area used to be bustling with runners, cyclists and walkers. Since African swine fever has taken hold of the region, there has been silence on the streets and vegetation growing imperceptibly restricted human activity.
David is much more than a farmhand; Thanks to a contract concluded in 2023 and valid until 2027, he holds the title of the park’s only official bidding shepherd. He is responsible for 402 sheep and 25 goats, forming a herd responsible for tasks beyond simple grazing. “If I weren’t a shepherd here, The park would have a problem real. “The vegetation would grow uncontrollably and increase the risk of fire,” warns Barrero, who understands its role as a link in area management and security for neighboring communities.
The park has become the epicenter of the health emergency. The Ground Zero declaration transforms everyday life into a complex network of permissions, surveillance and protocols in which Barrero’s presence represents a permitted exception in the midst of the void. There are also restrictions in other areas of Catalonia such as Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac or Montserrat. There is uncertainty in the 91 affected communities, but the greatest risks are concentrated in the paths that describe the daily journey of the shepherd and his flock.
The shepherd’s routine now includes careful preparation before crossing areas classified as high risk. Cerdanyola del Vallès, Sant Cugat and Montcada i Reixac require a series of hygienic rituals before David Barrero and his herd can enter the forest. Equipped with a disinfection kit provided by the park administration and under the supervision of the Military Emergency Unit (UME), the shepherd draws up a series of measures to contain possible vectors of contagion. The wheels of the vehicle are preserved a specific spraythe footwear is carefully disinfected and each animal is subjected to a visual inspection.
“If my sheep came through a contaminated area, they could do this spread the disease and become a carrier.” For Barrero, the threat of African swine fever represents a risk that goes beyond the economic, as it also implicates the health of ecosystems and the stability of a rural way of life increasingly constrained by health fluctuations. The regulations prevent temporary relocation to other areas such as Osona, Empordà or Ripollès, where pastures might be safer and more productive.
The result is the isolation of the shepherd and his animals, who have to adapt to a space marked by visible signs of crisis: “In practically every place you can see the tracks of wild boars, digging and looking for food.” Although David has not yet found any dead specimens, the constant traces of activity of wild boars every day increase the alertness and increase the pressure to maintain health control.
The economic component creates additional tension. Feeding a herd of this size requires a significant daily investment, which David estimates at €400 and increases to around €12,400 per month. The possibility of losing access to the park would be tantamount to ruin: “If they forbade me to graze the sheep, I would lose all the money“This reality implies that the work continues despite the environment permeated by risk and control, because, in the words of Barrero: “This type of activity cannot be rejected.”
Despite all odds, David Barrero’s determination remains unbroken. He affirms that his work, amid restrictions, geographical confinement and invisible threats, is not a remnant of a rural past, but an essential piece maintaining the balance between local economy, animal health and environmental protection.
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