As of this year, 2025, Guatemala is said to have approximately 616,600 sheep (according to World Population Review). Here in Palestina specifically, I mostly see sheep in people’s back yards or tierra (land). They usually live in little enclosed areas or huts.
Guatemalan sheep get to reap the benefit of grazing plants that are growing from rich, volcanic soil. This soil is great for livestock and also for a variety of crops, including coffee, bananas and cacao (the beans from which chocolate is made) (World Vision). Apparently, sheep are selective grazers, and different breeds have their own preferences and eating routines. Sheep often like to eat flower heads and buds, which can pose challenges for the sustainability of some grassy areas that have a variety of plant species, including different types of native plants, grasses and wildflowers. Sheep seem to avoid aromatic herbs, or plants that are known for their good smells, as well as unique-looking plants, or plants that copy certain species or are super well nourished (Sheep in Conservation Grazing). Sheep and the environment impact one another because sheep need plants to eat and survive, and they also impact the prevalence of certain plant species, since they are selective in what they do and do not eat. For example, we might see an increase in a type of plant that they do not eat.
