What Landesbetrieb HessenForst does

Landesbetrieb HessenForst is a state-owned forestry enterprise (Landesbetrieb) of the German state of Hessen, established in 1999 under Section 26 of the Hessian Budget Regulations and headquartered in Wiesbaden with operational presence in Kassel. It is the statutory steward of approximately 342,000 hectares of Hessian state forest — roughly 80% of Hesse's total forested area — organized through 39 forest offices (Forstämter) and around 400 forest districts (Reviere), staffed by 1,001–5,000 employees per the firmographic (with 650 employees present at a 2024 25th-anniversary celebration in Fulda). The organization delivers a diversified service portfolio: sustainable timber production and sales (premium oak logs via Wertholzsubmission auctions, firewood via the hessen-holz.de portal, chainsaw certification courses); hunting programs (organized Drückjagden, standing permits at €550 incl. VAT, seasonal wild boar sales); recreation and education (Wildpark Alte Fasanerie Hanau, Tiergarten Weilburg, Arboretum Main-Taunus, Waldpädagogik programs); and consulting services for municipal (Körperschaftswald) and private (Privatwald) forest owners, including EUDR advisory.

HessenForst operates under PEFC sustainable-forestry certification and runs two flagship model projects — Modellbetrieb Klimaschutz Plus at Forstamt Burgwald and Modellbetrieb Waldbiodiversität plus at Forstamt Hofbieber (both from 2022) — backed by research partnerships with NW-FVA, Senckenberg, and Universität Marburg. Post-2018 drought damage has driven a major reforestation program, with 10,000 hectares replanted using 27 million trees as a cumulative milestone. Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining state-budget allocations with commercial streams (timber sales, hunting and game sales, visitor fees, and a 5€/tree donation platform augmented by corporate sponsorships from Krombacher Brauerei and the Rittal Foundation). Sub-brands include HessenForst Technik (equipment services), HessenForst Saatgutzentrum (seed/sapling production), and Wolfszentrum Hessen (wolf monitoring and damage handling). Distribution runs through the 39-office decentralized network plus own digital storefronts and three flagship physical visitor sites. The organization's strategic posture combines public-interest mandates (conservation, climate adaptation, biodiversity, recreation) with commercial forestry, differentiated by regulatory monopoly, embedded research relationships, and a permanent local footprint no private operator could match.

Name

Landesbetrieb HessenForst

Legal name

Landesbetrieb HessenForst

Website

https://hessen-forst.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Landesbetrieb HessenForst is the state-owned forestry enterprise of the German state of Hessen, managing ~342,000 hectares of state forest through 39 forest offices and ~400 districts. It delivers sustainable timber production, hunting and recreation services, forest education, and conservation programs for citizens, municipalities, and private forest owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Forest Management Services

NAICS

Timber Tract Operations (11311), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (113210), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Timberland Asset Management (Institutional/Private) (AFAMAKAA), Timberland Asset Management & Consulting (AFAMAAAI), Forest Management & Silviculture Services (Cruising, Planning, Compliance) (IMAMAAAD), Silviculture & Reforestation Services (Nurseries, Planting, Tending) (IMAMAJAC), Timberland Leasing & Contract Administration (Hunting, Grazing, Recreation) (AFAMAKAD), Timberland Conservation & Easement Management (AFAMAKAI)

Keywords

• State forest management
• Sustainable forestry services
• Wildlife habitat conservation
• Timber harvesting sales
• Forest education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kassel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Timber Sales (Wood Products): Sale of timber including oak premium logs through submission auctions (Wertholzsubmission), firewood sales through hessen-holz.de platform, and general timber harvesting and sales from state forests
2. Forestry Services: Professional forestry consulting and services for municipal forests (Körperschaftswald) and private forests (Privatwald), including forest management planning, harvesting services, and reforestation support
3. Hunting Permits and Game Sales: Sale of hunting permits, organized driven hunts (Drückjagden), and wild game products including seasonal offerings like wild boar at reduced prices
4. Donations and Sponsoring: Public donations for tree planting projects (5€ per tree) and corporate sponsorship of conservation projects like forest restoration and biodiversity initiatives
5. Recreation and Education Services: Wildpark entry fees (Alte Fasanerie Hanau, Tiergarten Weilburg), forest pedagogy programs, and recreational permits for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Landesbetrieb HessenForst manages approximately 342,000 hectares of Hessian state forests through 39 forest offices (Forstämter) and around 400 districts (Reviere). It delivers timber harvesting and sales (firewood via hessen-holz.de and premium timber auctions), hunting permits and game management, forestry consulting for municipal and private forest owners, forest education (Waldpädagogik), and operates wildlife parks and arboretums for public recreation. The organization also runs specialized divisions for seed production, technical services, wolf management, and climate/biodiversity research.

Product overview

Landesbetrieb HessenForst is a state-owned forestry enterprise managing approximately 342,000 hectares of Hessian state forests across 39 forest offices (Forstämter) and around 400 districts (Reviere). The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of forestry products and services including timber production and sales (Brennholz, Wertholzsubmission), game meat sales (Wildfleisch), hunting services (Jagdangebote), forest education (Waldpädagogik), and nature conservation frameworks. Visitor attractions include two wild parks (Wildpark Alte Fasanerie Hanau, Tiergarten Weilburg) and the Arboretum Main-Taunus. Specialized services include the HessenForst Saatgutzentrum (seed center), HessenForst Technik (technical services), Wolfszentrum Hessen (wolf center), Mobile Waldbauernschule (forestry training), and Motorsägenkurse (chainsaw certification). Research initiatives include Modellbetrieb Klimaschutz Plus (carbon sequestration research) and Modellbetrieb Waldbiodiversität plus (biodiversity research). The organization operates model projects for forest management, conservation, and climate adaptation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HessenForst Technik: Technical services division of HessenForst
• HessenForst Saatgutzentrum
• Wolfszentrum Hessen

Products and services

• Brennholz (Firewood)
• Wildfleisch (Game Meat)
• Jagdangebote (Hunting Services)
• Waldpädagogik (Forest Education)
• Wildpark Alte Fasanerie Hanau
• Tiergarten Weilburg
• Arboretum Main-Taunus
• Motorsägenkurs (Chainsaw Certification)
• Wertholzsubmission (Premium Timber Auction)
• Mobile Waldbauernschule
• HessenForst Saatgutzentrum
• HessenForst Technik
• Wolfszentrum Hessen (Wolf Center)
• Forstliche Dienstleistungen (Forestry Services)
• Ferienhaus (Forest Holiday House)
• Modellbetrieb Klimaschutz Plus
• Modellbetrieb Waldbiodiversität plus
• Naturschutzleitlinie (Nature Conservation Framework)

Quantifiable outcome

• 342,000 hectares of state forest under sustainable management
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nordwestdeutsche Forstliche Versuchsanstalt (NW-FVA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Research partnership for climate-optimized forest management. NW-FVA collaborates with HessenForst on the 'Modellbetrieb Klimaschutz Plus' project at Forstamt Burgwald, focusing on carbon sequestration enhancement, forest moor conservation, and water retention. Also collaborates on hutewald (wood pasture) conservation research in Reinhardswald.
• Forschungsinstitut SenckenbergcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Research partnership in the 'Modellbetrieb Klimaschutz Plus' project, contributing expertise on biodiversity and ecosystem services in forest management.
• Universität MarburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Academic research partnership in the 'Modellbetrieb Klimaschutz Plus' project, focusing on climate-optimized forest management scientific research.
• Diakonie Hessen (Evangelische Freiwilligendienste)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for organizing Ecological Voluntary Service (FÖJ/ÖBFD) programs across HessenForst forest offices. Diakonie Hessen coordinates volunteer placements for year-long forestry service programs.
• Local Conservation AssociationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with local nature conservation associations on moor restoration and biodiversity projects, including financial and practical support for conservation measures.
• Stadt KönigsteinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint funding partnership for trout pond maintenance project, with shared costs between city, local heritage association, and state of Hesse.
• Heimatverein FalkensteinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in trout pond maintenance project, sharing costs with city and state.
• Naturschutzverbände und -behörden (Conservation Associations and Authorities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on implementing nature conservation guidelines, developing local conservation concepts (LNK) for each forest office, and coordinating species habitat protection measures.
• Kommune EchzellminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partnership for training initiative, with joint apprenticeship program for forest workers combining municipal and state forest training.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sachsenforst: State-owned forestry enterprise (Landesbetrieb) for Saxony managing public forests, reforestation, and conservation under the Saxon State Ministry of Energy, Climate Protection, Environment and Agriculture. Direct German state forestry peer.
• Landesbetrieb Forst Brandenburg: State-owned forestry operator managing Brandenburg's state forests. Another direct German Landesbetrieb peer with parallel organizational structure and forest management mandate.
• Niedersächsische Landesforsten: State-owned forestry enterprise managing approximately 330,000 hectares in Lower Saxony. Direct German state Landesbetrieb peer with parallel organizational structure, timber sales operations, conservation mandate, and recreational/educational services.
• Landesforsten Baden-Württemberg (ForstBW): State-owned forestry operator managing approximately 320,000 hectares in Baden-Württemberg. Operates under the same Landesbetrieb legal form as HessenForst with similar state mandate for forest management, timber sales, conservation, recreation, and forest education.
• Landesforst Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Forst M-V): State forestry administration for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Another German state Landesbetrieb peer with similar mandate for managing state forests, timber production, conservation, and recreation services.
• Bayerische Staatsforsten: State-owned forestry enterprise managing approximately 808,000 hectares of Bavarian state forest. Operates as an Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts under the Bavarian Ministry of Nutrition, Agriculture and Forestry — the most direct structural peer to HessenForst given the parallel Landesbetrieb mandate, multi-office network, and PEFC-certified sustainable forest management.
• ThüringenForst: State-owned forestry enterprise for Thuringia, operating under parallel legal framework with comparable forest management mandate, timber sales, conservation services, and education programs. Another direct German state Landesbetrieb peer.
• Landesforsten Rheinland-Pfalz: State forestry administration managing approximately 240,000 hectares in Rhineland-Palatinate. Another German state Landesbetrieb peer operating with similar forest management, timber harvesting, and conservation services mandate.
• Landesbetrieb Wald und Holz Nordrhein-Westfalen: State-owned forestry operator for North Rhine-Westphalia managing approximately 360,000 hectares. Operates as a Landesbetrieb under the NRW Ministry of Environment with similar multi-office structure, timber harvesting, and public recreation/education services.

Broad incumbents

• Hancock Natural Resource Group: Global institutional timberland investment manager (Manulife Investment Management subsidiary) managing over 5 million acres across geographies. Broader incumbent in the institutional timberland asset management category that HessenForst occupies for its 342,000-hectare state forest portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@landesbetriebhessenforst2556
• Facebookfacebook.com/Landesbetrieb.HessenForst
• Instagraminstagram.com/landesbetrieb.hessenforst/?hl=de

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Landesbetrieb HessenForst