Zenneoevers Brussel

Commissioned by Brussels Environment, Plant en Houtgoed manages two nature reserves along the Zenne riverbanks. To promote ecologically sustainable land stewardship, a managed flock of sheep has been introduced. This form of conservation grazing acts as a self-regulating, non-invasive management strategy, stimulating natural processes through animal behavior.
The sheep’s grazing patterns create spatial heterogeneity: some areas are enriched through nutrient deposition, while others become more nutrient-poor. This leads to a dynamic mosaic of open grazed patches and denser, undisturbed tall-herb zones, enhancing habitat diversity for both flora and fauna—without the need for invasive interventions like large-scale mowing.
Grazing is closely monitored and guided by Plant en Houtgoed’s ecology and management team. Grazing intensity is regularly assessed and adjusted where needed. Supplementary actions—such as targeted mowing or invasive species control—are implemented based on ecological necessity.
This integrated, adaptive management approach enables the long-term development of these sites into increasingly valuable and biodiverse components of Brussels’ green-blue infrastructure.