On 5 September, in Miranda do Douro, LIFE Maronesa took part in the Iberian Meeting of Native Breeds organised by the AEPGA association.
The day was divided into two parts. In the morning, the role and potential of the Iberian native donkey breeds and strategies for their valorisation were discussed, with the participation of the technical secretaries of the Burro de las Encartaciones (Basque country), Andalusian and Zamorano-Leonese breeds.
In the afternoon, opportunities and challenges for the development of projects to valorise indigenous breeds were discussed. In this context, LIFE Maronesa was discussed and presented by the project manager, Henrique Mira Godinho. The TerRa project was also presented by AEPGA president Miguel Nóvoa and the Life SILFORE project by IPB professor Marina Castro.
At the end of the day we went on a field trip to the Animal Forest Brigade project developed by the AEPGA association in Vila Chã da Braciosa, which uses the Mirandese donkey as manager of the Mirandese plateau ecosystem.
On 6 September we also had the privilege of visiting the National Competition of the Miranda Asinine Breed, at the Recinto do Naso, in the village of Póvoa (Miranda do Douro), where we were able to witness a joyful fraternisation of generations as well as the docility and intelligence of the Mirandese donkey.
