ROSA CANINA

Rosa Canina is a cooperative social enterprise based in the Liège region of Belgium that grew out of shepherding and ecological grazing. Its core activity is ecopasturing: using a flock to manage public and private land in a way that supports biodiversity, avoids chemical treatments, and keeps open habitats in good ecological condition. (rosacanina.be ) The company positions itself as a collective, mission-driven project rather than a conventional land-management contractor. It emphasizes social utility, democratic governance, and long-term ecological stewardship, while also creating work opportunities linked to its activities. Rosa Canina serves landowners, municipalities, and other site managers looking for nature-positive maintenance and biodiversity-enhancing interventions. (rosacanina.be ) Key Offerings Ecopasturing / ecological grazing : Managed grazing services for public and private sites, using sheep to maintain open landscapes, regulate vegetation, and support biodiversity without chemical inputs. (rosacanina.be ) Biodiversity-friendly land services : Nature-oriented site services such as tree and hedge planting, native meadow sowing or overseeding, brush clearing, and tree care. (rosacanina.be ) Local wool valorization : A participatory wool project that covers shearing, sorting, spinning, creation, and knowledge-sharing to give local wool more value. (rosacanina.be ) Cooperative participation : Cooperative membership for supporters who want to take part in the project, access activities, and contribute to its development. (rosacanina.be ) Core Values Biodiversity : The company’s stated purpose is to preserve and develop biodiversity through grazing and other ecological interventions. (rosacanina.be ) Ecological stewardship : Rosa Canina favors low-impact, non-chemical, long-term management that works with natural cycles rather than against them. (rosacanina.be ) Social economy and participation : The cooperative model is designed around democratic governance, collective ownership, and social usefulness over profit maximization. (rosacanina.be ) Local value creation : The company seeks to strengthen local activity through wool-based artisan projects and by supporting shepherds, including “landless” shepherds. (rosacanina.be ) Unique Aspects Shepherd-led ecological management : Rosa Canina explicitly frames ecopasturing as a shepherd’s profession, not just a maintenance technique, and uses the flock as the starting point for its model. (rosacanina.be ) Cooperative social enterprise structure : It became a cooperative with an eco-social purpose in July 2021, with democratic governance and capped dividends. (rosacanina.be ) Regional biodiversity footprint : The company works across multiple sites in and around Liège, including citadel slopes, parks, orchards, reservoirs, and Natura 2000 grasslands. (rosacanina.be ) Wool as a second value stream : Beyond grazing, Rosa Canina is building a local wool transformation project that connects animal husbandry with artisan and participatory product development. (rosacanina.be )