Forest and Wood NRW
Wald und Holz NRW is a German state-owned forestry agency managing 915,800 hectares of forest across North Rhine-Westphalia through 14 regional offices, providing forest supervision, timber management, environmental education, ranger tours, youth hostels, and certification training to private forest owners, citizens, and the wood industry.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersMünster, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Forest and Wood NRW does
Wald und Holz NRW (legal name: Landesbetrieb Wald und Holz Nordrhein-Westfalen) is a state-owned forestry enterprise (Landesbetrieb) of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, operating under §14a of the NRW State Organisation Act and supervised by the Ministry for Agriculture and Consumer Protection (MLV NRW). It is the sole state-level forestry authority for NRW, managing 915,800 hectares of forest (27% of the state's land area) through 14 Regional Forestry Offices, the Eifel National Park Forestry Office, and the Arnsberg Training and Testing Forestry Office, with 300 forest wardens deployed across 300 forest management units. The organisation covers 74 natural forest cells and 143,000 hectares of FFH (Fauna-Flora-Habitat) sites, and oversees an annual timber harvest of approximately 4.3 million m³ against an 8.3 million m³ annual increment.
The entity's core technology stack centres on domain-specialised forest information systems: the Waldinfo.NRW interactive map service, the Borkenkäfermonitoring bark beetle surveillance programme, and the Waldzustand forest condition reporting system. Its service portfolio spans forest supervision and owner advisory (for NRW's 150,000 private forest owners and 17% municipal holdings), timber sales, environmental education (Waldumweltbildung, Waldjugendspiele, school films), ranger-led tours and youth forest hostels (five locations), eight forest information centres, and professional training ranging from chainsaw courses to the Zertifikatslehrgang Waldpädagogik certification and a new e-learning Sachkundenachweis Pflanzenschutz (plant protection certification) launched December 2024.
The business model is hybrid: state budget allocations fund the regulatory supervision and public-good functions, while operational revenue is generated through timber sales from state forests (13% of NRW forest area), fee-based ranger tours (typically €8.50/adult, up to €49 for specialist workshops), certification courses, and an online publications shop. Distribution is delivered directly through the regional office network, supplemented by channel partnerships with regional tourism operators (BLB Tourismus GmbH, Aachener Touristik) and a digital presence across the main website, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), an online newsletter, and the partner portal waldbauernlotse.de for forest-owner funding.
Forest and Wood NRW firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Forest and Wood NRW
- Legal name
- Landesbetrieb Wald und Holz Nordrhein-Westfalen
- Website
- https://wald-und-holz.nrw.de
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wald und Holz NRW is a German state-owned forestry agency managing 915,800 hectares of forest across North Rhine-Westphalia through 14 regional offices, providing forest supervision, timber management, environmental education, ranger tours, youth hostels, and certification training to private forest owners, citizens, and the wood industry.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Forest and Wood NRW industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Forest Management Services
- NAICS
- Timber Tract Operations (11311), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Timberland Operations Planning & Contractor Management (AFAMAKAE)
Keywords
Where Forest and Wood NRW is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Münster
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Forest and Wood NRW business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard ranger-guided tours |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free educational events and public services |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Certification and training courses |
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Forest and Wood NRW product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wald und Holz NRW is a state-owned enterprise that manages approximately 915,800 hectares of forest (27% of NRW's land area) across North Rhine-Westphalia. It provides forest supervision, timber sales from state forests, advisory and management services for private and municipal forest owners, environmental education programs, ranger-guided tours, professional training (chainsaw courses, hunting, plant protection certification), and publications.
Product overview
Wald und Holz NRW is a state-owned forestry agency operating under the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry for Agriculture and Consumer Protection. The organization does not offer a unified software product but rather provides a portfolio of public services centered on sustainable forest management, environmental education, and recreational forest experiences. Key services include the Waldinfo.NRW interactive map portal, ranger-led educational tours, youth forest hostels, forest information centers, professional training programs (chainsaw courses, hunting offers, plant protection certification), and publications. The organization manages 14 regional forestry offices plus the Eifel National Park Forestry Office and Training Center in Arnsberg, covering 915,800 hectares of forest across the state.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Waldinfo.NRW: Interactive map service providing forest-related geographic information for North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Waldjugendspiele
- Waldpädagogik Zertifikatslehrgang
- Sachkundenachweis Pflanzenschutz
Products and services
- Forest Supervision and Management (Forstaufsicht)
Quantifiable outcome
- 27% of NRW land area (915,800 hectares) managed as forest
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Forest and Wood NRW
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Forest and Wood NRW technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Forest and Wood NRW partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- I.D.E.E.-NRW (Informations- und Demonstrationszentrum Erneuerbare Energien)minorCollaboration on renewable energy topics in forests. I.D.E.E. NRW is an information and demonstration center for renewable energies that works with Wald und Holz NRW on offerings related to renewable energy areas and forest energy concepts.
- 9 German Forestry Universities and BOKU ViennaminorResearch collaboration on Sachkundenachweis Pflanzenschutz (pesticide certification) in forestry education. Wald und Holz NRW researched the status of pesticide certification acquisition at the nine forestry faculties in Germany and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU).
- Ministerium für Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz NRWcoreOverseeing ministry that exercises specialist supervision over the state enterprise. The ministry is responsible for forest policy and the implementation of forestry programs including promotion of wood use for energy and non-energy purposes.
- waldbauernlotse.de (Forestry Funding Portal)minorCollaborative portal for forest owner funding and support programs, providing information on subsidies and support for forest management and extreme weather recovery.
- BLB Tourismus GmbH (Bergisches Land Tourism)minorPartnership for joint tourism offerings in the Bergisches Land region. BLB Tourismus sells and promotes ranger-guided tours and cycling events organized by Wald und Holz NRW.
- Aachener TouristikminorPartnership for ranger-guided tours in the Aachen city forest. Aachener Touristik handles booking for regular forest tours conducted by Wald und Holz NRW rangers.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Forest and Wood NRW competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Niedersächsische Landesforsten: State-owned forestry enterprise of Lower Saxony managing over 330,000 ha of state forest with timber sales, forest protection, recreation, and environmental education — directly comparable in mandate, scale, and state-owned Landesbetrieb structure.
- Bayerische Staatsforsten: State-owned forestry agency managing Bavaria's 805,000 ha of state forest — the largest German Landesbetrieb forest enterprise and the closest structural peer, offering timber sales, recreation, education, and forest protection under public ownership.
- ForstBW: State forestry agency of Baden-Württemberg operating under similar Landesbetrieb governance, managing state forest, supervising private forests, and providing environmental education and recreation services.
- Landesforst Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: State-owned forestry enterprise of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern managing roughly 300,000 ha with timber sales, hunting, recreation, and education services — directly comparable public-sector forestry operator.
- ThüringenForst: State forestry agency of Thuringia (Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts), managing ~200,000 ha of state forest with timber sales, recreation, and biodiversity protection functions analogous to NRW's Landesbetrieb.
- Hessische Landesforsten: State-owned forestry enterprise of Hesse managing approximately 330,000 ha; offers timber marketing, forest protection, ranger-led recreation, and environmental education — same statutory mandate as Wald und Holz NRW.
- Landesbetrieb Forst Brandenburg: State-owned forestry agency of Brandenburg (Landesbetrieb) managing ~270,000 ha of state forest, providing timber sales, nature conservation, recreation, and forest owner advisory — same governance form as Wald und Holz NRW.
- SaarForst: State forestry Landesbetrieb of the Saarland managing state forest areas, timber sales, and recreation — comparable mandate at smaller scale.
Broad incumbents
- Office National des Forêts (ONF): French national forestry agency managing state and municipal forests across metropolitan France and overseas; the most prominent European public-sector forest operator and a natural international benchmark for mandate and scope.
- Metsähallitus: Finnish state-owned forestry enterprise managing ~1.4M ha of state-owned land and waters; comparable state-owned forestry operator with timber, recreation, nature conservation, and biodiversity mandates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Forest and Wood NRW social profiles
Digital presenceForest and Wood NRW financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Forest and Wood NRW leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Forest and Wood NRW subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
Forest and Wood NRW funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Forest and Wood NRW M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Forest and Wood NRW
What does Forest and Wood NRW do?
Wald und Holz NRW is a state-owned enterprise that manages approximately 915,800 hectares of forest (27% of NRW's land area) across North Rhine-Westphalia. It provides forest supervision, timber sales from state forests, advisory and management services for private and municipal forest owners, environmental education programs, ranger-guided tours, professional training (chainsaw courses, hunting, plant protection certification), and publications.
Is Forest and Wood NRW a public or private company?
Forest and Wood NRW is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Forest and Wood NRW founded?
Forest and Wood NRW was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Forest and Wood NRW based?
Forest and Wood NRW is headquartered in Münster, Germany, in the Europe region.
Who are Forest and Wood NRW's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Niedersächsische Landesforsten, Bayerische Staatsforsten, ForstBW, Landesforst Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, ThüringenForst, Hessische Landesforsten, Landesbetrieb Forst Brandenburg and SaarForst. Broad incumbents are Office National des Forêts (ONF) and Metsähallitus.
Does Forest and Wood NRW have an API?
No public API is recorded for Forest and Wood NRW.
What industry is Forest and Wood NRW in?
Forest and Wood NRW's product category is Public Forest Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAMAKAE, Timberland Operations Planning & Contractor Management. Its NAICS code is 11311 and its SIC code is 800.