Ecopastoralism at Bovis Alsace in Hangenbieten near Strasbourg

Bovis Alsace, pioneer of ecopastoralism to preserve biodiversity near Strasbourg

The Bovis Group acts for our environment

The BOVIS Group, aware of the need to act for the ecology and sustainable development of the planet, is committed to a strong Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy. This is a major axis of our governance. This approach leads us every day to innovative ways to improve to reduce our ecological impact.

As part of its environmental policy, the Bovis Group analyses its Significant Environmental Aspects (ESAs) in detail. This approach concerns all the Group's agencies, whether or not they are in the process of ISO 14001 certification. The objective is to reduce and even phase out activities and services that have significant impacts on the environment.

Like the entire Bovis Group, our Bovis Alsace agency is committed to an eco-responsible approach. This is how our Alsatian team took the initiative to develop eco-grazing for the maintenance of the green spaces of our agency near Strasbourg.

Ecopastoralism, an original ecological solution

The practice of eco-grazing or "eco-pastoralism" consists of maintaining landscaped areas ("mowing" the lawn, or even clearing brush) in an ecological and natural way by introducing herbivorous animals such as cattle, sheep, or goats. This avoids the use of "chemical" treatments and/or mechanical equipment.

It is an ancestral technique that has unfortunately been largely abandoned in favour of mechanical machines. This technique is now being put back in the spotlight in the face of environmental issues, and is a first-choice alternative for managing green spaces in an economic, social and environmental sustainability approach.

Indeed, the intensive use of pesticides has had a negative impact on the environment by impoverishing landscaped areas to the detriment of animal and plant diversity. This sad observation requires us to think about new methods of maintaining landscaped areas, alternative, reasoned, sustainable and ecological.

Eco-grazing has convinced the Bovis Alsace teams because it appears today as an original response to the ecological challenges of tomorrow and to the evolution of legislation in favour of more environmentally friendly approaches.

The benefits of eco-grazing

Bovis Alsace, concerned about reducing its environmental impact, has chosen to contribute to this great momentum towards ecopastoralism, which is attracting more and more local authorities and more recently private companies.

This method has many advantages in the context of a more environmentally friendly approach:

Ecological: Eco-grazing releases less Carbon Dioxide (CO2) compared to a mechanical mower that runs on petrol.

Natural: it allows the maintenance of wasteland areas, the reduction of green waste, the limitation of weed killers and mechanical machinery on the green space surrounding our storage warehouse.

Respectful of biodiversity: Animal droppings fertilize the land and thus promote biodiversity. Indeed, insects degrade organic matter, then are consumed by birds. It is the natural food chain that is restored.

Practical and silent, eco-grazing has few constraints, requires little maintenance and spares our employees from noise pollution while providing them with a rural lunch break.

Eco-grazing is fun and makes it possible to raise awareness of the environmental responsibilities of companies among employees, customers and visitors to the Bovis Alsace site in an original way.

Solidarity and social, eco-grazing can also allow local breeders to maintain their activity by creating additional income.

New employees at Bovis Alsace!

Many animals can be suitable for eco-grazing. Our Bovis agency has opted for goats and rams, sociable and particularly effective on steep and hard-to-reach terrain.

We have therefore recently "hired" seven new "employees" who will take charge of the maintenance of the green spaces around our storage warehouse near Strasbourg.  We are pleased to introduce you to our 3 rams - Gandalf, Vader and Koda - as well as our 4 goats, Patricia, Laurence, Noisette and Zeus.

We will give you regular news of these friendly boarders in the hope that we will soon be able to expand the BOVIS Group's herd to other agencies.