What Nature+ does

Nature+ is a Belgian non-profit association (ASBL) founded in 2000 and headquartered in Gembloux, Belgium, specializing in the sustainable management of tropical natural and semi-natural ecosystems — primarily forests, savannas, and forest clearings in Central Africa. The organization delivers a multidisciplinary portfolio spanning silviculture and forest management planning, reduced-impact logging (EFIR) techniques, FSC/PAFC/PEFC certification support, wildlife inventories using camera traps, acoustic sensors and environmental DNA, REDD+ carbon and biomass measurement, agroforestry systems, and participatory community forestry. Its underlying technical approach combines forest inventory methodologies, wildlife monitoring systems, carbon measurement tools, and GIS mapping, supported by a long-standing scientific partnership with Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (Université de Liège).

The organization's business model is a hybrid of three streams: (i) donations and fundraising from individuals, institutional donors, and environmental foundations (EU, FFEM, KfW/PPECF); (ii) project-based consulting services to forest enterprises (Olam Agri, IFO-Interholco, Pallisco, GRUMCAM, Precious Wood Gabon) and NGOs/governments for forest management planning, certification, and wildlife work, funded through donor and client budgets; and (iii) modest direct-to-consumer revenue from 'Pure Odzala-Kokoua' sustainable chocolate and caramelized cocoa beans (90g tablets sold at €6, with 30-45% of sale price routed to local producer communities). Distribution leverages a network of partnerships across Central Africa (African Parks, COMIFAC, Jardin Botanique de Meise, ATIBT, Missouri Botanical Garden) and Europe, with reach covering approximately 4.7-5 million hectares of forest concessions across Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon, DRC, CAR, and Equatorial Guinea.

Nature+ operates with a lean core team of 10-15 staff augmented by a 34-member General Assembly and 8-member Board of Directors dominated by Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech academics, executing projects in partnership with forest enterprises, conservation NGOs, and government agencies. The organization maintains an active research output (the 'Les Arbres d'Afrique Centrale' Tome 1 reference covering 863 species, the CameraTrappist database with 1M+ media files across 89 campaigns) and markets through documentary films, festivals, social media, and a direct donation platform, with no traditional equity funding, ownership structure, or disclosed financials.

Name

Nature+

Legal name

Nature+ ASBL

Website

https://natureplus.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nature+ is a Belgian non-profit founded in 2000 that delivers sustainable forest management, wildlife monitoring, agroforestry, and certification services to forestry enterprises, local communities, and government agencies across Central Africa, reaching ~4.7 million hectares.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forest Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Forestry (800), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Forest Operations Planning & Compliance (Permitting, HCV/HCS, ESG) (IMAMAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity Conservation & Habitat Banking (AFAMAMAC), Avoided Conversion & Ecosystem Protection (REDD+, Blue Carbon Conservation) (EUABABAC), Ecosystem Services & Natural Capital Programs (Water, Biodiversity Credits, PES) (IMAMAJAK), Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE), Timberland Conservation & Easement Management (AFAMAKAI)

Keywords

• Sustainable forest management
• Wildlife conservation services
• Forest certification consulting
• Agroforestry development
• Tropical forestry research

Headquarters

HQ city

Gembloux

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Nature+ operates as a non-profit association (asbl) relying primarily on donations from individuals, institutional donors, and environmental foundations. The organization conducts fundraising campaigns including documentary film projects to raise funds for conservation activities.
2. Conservation Products (Chocolate/Cocoa): Nature+ sells sustainable chocolate products under the 'Pure Odzala-Kokoua' label. Proceeds from chocolate and caramelized cocoa bean sales (30-45% of sale price) go directly to local producer communities and conservation funds. A 90g chocolate tablet is sold for €6.
3. Project-Based Consulting Services: Nature+ provides technical expertise to forest enterprises, governments, and NGOs on forest management, wildlife conservation, certification, and agroforestry projects. Services include forest inventory, management plan development, and capacity building, funded through project budgets from donors and clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Nature+ is a Belgian non-profit association (ASBL) that delivers technical advisory services for sustainable management of tropical forests in Central Africa. Its core offerings include forestry consulting (forest management planning, reduced-impact logging, FSC/PEFC certification support), wildlife conservation (fauna inventories, camera trap surveys, eDNA analysis), and social forestry/agroforestry programs for local communities. The organization also generates supplementary revenue through donations and the sale of sustainable chocolate products under the Pure Odzala-Kokoua label.

Product overview

Nature+ is a Belgian non-profit organization founded in 2000 specializing in sustainable management of tropical natural resources in Central Africa. The organization offers a portfolio of services including forestry advisory (sustainable forest management planning, reduced-impact logging, FSC/PEFC certification support), wildlife conservation and management (fauna inventories, camera trap surveys, acoustic sensors, environmental DNA), and social forestry/agroforestry. The portfolio also includes consumer products (Pure Odzala-Kokoua sustainable cocoa/chocolate under fair-trade principles), scientific publications (notably 'Les Arbres d'Afrique Centrale' reference guide), and the CameraTrappist research database of wildlife monitoring data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pure Odzala-Kokoua: A conservation label for cocoa beans and chocolate products sourced from producers around Odzala-Kokoua National Park in Republic of Congo, promoting zero-deforestation and fair income for farmers.

Products and services

• Pure Odzala-Kokoua Cocoa Products Sustainable chocolate and caramelized cocoa beans produced by local women's associations around Odzala-Kokoua National Park in Republic of Congo under the Pure Odzala-Kokoua label. Products include 90g chocolate tablets sold at €6, with 30-45% of the sale price going to local producers and conservation funds, supporting zero-deforestation cocoa farming and fair-trade practices.
• Les Arbres d'Afrique Centrale, Tome 1 - Les familles de A à F Reference guide for identifying 863 tree species across 39 botanical families in Central African plains and submontane forests, richly illustrated with over 4,000 color photographs. Includes morphological identification criteria, ecological information, faunal interactions, industrial and traditional uses, and conservation status assessments. Targeted at forest companies, training and research centers, and local communities.
• Forestry and Conservation Publications Collection of practical guides on sustainable forest management in Central Africa, covering topics such as tree plantations, forest management, wildlife management, and community forestry. Distributed through academic channels, ATIBT, and free PDF downloads.
• Forestry Advisory Services Expert consultancy for sustainable forest management including forest management planning, reduced-impact logging (EFIR), silviculture, reforestation, and forest certification support (FSC, PAFC, PEFC). Delivered to forest enterprises, governments, and NGOs across Central Africa covering over 4.7 million hectares.
• Wildlife Conservation and Management Fauna inventories, camera trap surveys, acoustic sensor monitoring, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, and wildlife management plan development for forest concessions and protected areas. Designed to monitor biodiversity impacts of timber exploitation and support conservation planning.
• Social Forestry and Agroforestry Participatory forest management, community nurseries, simple management plans, agroforestry systems for household-level farmers, and community forest legalization support. Includes programs such as RIFoP for household agroforestry and sustainable cocoa production in Republic of Congo.
• CameraTrappist Database Biodiversity database aggregating over 1 million media records from 89 camera trap inventory campaigns across 8 countries, with nearly 205 identified species. Supports wildlife conservation research, IUCN species distribution documentation, and conservation status updates.

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (Université de Liège)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Primary research partner since Nature+'s founding in 2000. Co-edits publications including 'Les Arbres d'Afrique Centrale' and provides scientific backstopping. The Axe de Gestion des Ressources Forestières provides research collaboration, student supervision, and technical expertise for conservation projects.
• Jardin Botanique de MeisemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-editor of the book 'Les Arbres d'Afrique Centrale, Tome 1' which identifies 863 tree species across 39 botanical families with over 4,000 photographs. Provides botanical expertise and research collaboration.
• African Parks NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2019 to promote sustainable, zero-deforestation cocoa production and community development around Odzala-Kokoua National Park in Republic of Congo. Nature+ provides technical expertise while African Parks manages the national park.
• NoémajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization for NaturAfrica Sud-Est project in Lobéké area. Implements conflict mitigation and community conservation activities alongside Nature+.
• Conservation JusticemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NaturAfrica conservation programs for anti-poaching support and wildlife crime prevention in Central African forest landscapes.
• COMIFAC (Commission des Forêts d'Afrique Centrale)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional body overseeing Central African forest policy. Collaborates on tree species guide publication and forest certification standards.
• ATIBT (Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides logistical support for book distribution in Central Africa and facilitates industry networking for sustainable forest management.
• Pallisco-CIFMmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerForest company in Cameroon providing field sites for research and certification support. Logistical support for tree species guide publication.
• Olam Agri (Congolaise Industrielle des Bois)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerForest concession operator in Republic of Congo. Client for wildlife monitoring methodology development (CAAPP-Faune project) using camera traps, acoustic sensors, and eDNA in Pokola, Kabo, and Loundoungou-Toukoulaka concessions.
• IFO-InterholcomajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerForest concession manager in UFA Ngombe, Republic of Congo. Client for wildlife management plan development for FSC/PAFC certification.
• GRUMCAM (ALPICAM)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerForest company in Eastern Cameroon. Client for forest management plan revision for UFA 10.023 concession.
• Ecocoa ChocolateriemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChocolate manufacturer producing 'Pure Odzala-Kokoua' chocolate from sustainably-sourced cocoa beans provided by local producer communities supported by Nature+.
• C4 (Consulting Firm)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiodiversity credit initiative collaborator exploring innovative financing mechanisms for forest conservation.
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology (Cornell University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner providing scientific expertise for acoustic sensor wildlife monitoring methodologies in Central African forest concessions.
• Lincoln Park ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation research partner contributing to wildlife monitoring methodology development using camera traps and acoustic sensors.
• UICN (Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCameraTrappist database user and collaborator. IUCN specialists access data for species distribution documentation and conservation status updates.
• Missouri Botanical GardenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaborator contributing to the 'Les Arbres d'Afrique Centrale' publication and botanical taxonomy expertise.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): Global NGO running large-scale Congo Basin wildlife, forest and protected-area programs with forest enterprises and governments. WCS is the closest comparable in combining field-based wildlife monitoring, concession partnerships and FSC/certification support across Central Africa.
• African Parks: Manages Odzala-Kokoua National Park — Nature+'s core project site — and partners with Nature+ on community cocoa. Comparable as a field-operating conservation organization managing large protected landscapes in Central Africa through public-private partnerships.
• African Wildlife Foundation: Africa-focused conservation NGO with significant Congo Basin footprint, working on wildlife management, community livelihoods and sustainable forestry in concession-adjacent landscapes. Directly comparable mission and operating model.
• Fauna & Flora International (FFI): UK-headquartered conservation NGO with active Central African forest programs, wildlife monitoring methodologies and enterprise partnerships. Closely comparable in combining applied conservation science with sustainable forest management and certification work.
• Noé: French conservation NGO leading the NaturAfrica Sud-Est program in the Lobéké area alongside Nature+. Directly comparable in mission, European funding base and field presence in Central African forest landscapes.
• Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR-ICRAF): International research institution running applied tropical forestry, agroforestry and REDD+ programs across the Congo Basin. Comparable on the applied-research, capacity-building and policy-engagement axis that underpins Nature+'s work with Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech.
• Conservation Justice: Gabon-based NGO specializing in wildlife law enforcement and anti-poaching in Central African landscapes, and a named NaturAfrica partner alongside Nature+. Comparable as a Central African field NGO working with forest enterprises and protected-area management.

Broad incumbents

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Largest global conservation NGO with deep Congo Basin presence and certification/climate programs. Overlaps Nature+ on forest certification, REDD+ and wildlife work but operates as a much broader portfolio spanning many geographies and species programs.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization that develops forest monitoring tools (Global Forest Watch) and REDD+/biodiversity frameworks. Comparable on the analytical, standards-setting and policy side of Central African forest management, though more focused on global platforms than on-the-ground implementation.
• Rainforest Alliance: Global certification and sustainable agriculture organization active in Central African cocoa and timber supply chains (and named partner on Nature+'s RIFoP project). Comparable on the certification and sustainable-commodities side though broader in scope and geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NatureplusASBL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/76273770
• Instagraminstagram.com/natureplus_asbl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nature+