Conservatoire d'espaces naturels des Pays de la Loire

Name

Conservatoire d'espaces naturels des Pays de la Loire

Legal name

Conservatoire d'espaces naturels des Pays de la Loire

Website

https://cenpaysdelaloire.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Guided Wildlife Safaris & Game Drives (Sanctuary/Reserve-Based) (THAAAFAF), Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)

Keywords

• Natural area conservation
• Ecological restoration services
• Biodiversity habitat management
• Nature reserve operations
• Environmental site management

Headquarters

HQ city

Nantes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individuals, associations, local governments, and businesses supporting the association's mission
2. Public Funding and Subsidies: Financial support from government bodies including DREAL Pays de la Loire, Agence de l'eau Loire-Bretagne, and Région Pays de la Loire for conservation projects and network animation
3. Contract Services: Technical assistance and advisory services provided to local governments and landowners, including ecological management contracts and land stewardship agreements (Obligations réelles environnementales)
4. Donations: Public donations for specific conservation projects such as the #Adopteunechauve-souris campaign for bat habitat acquisition
5. Project-Based European Funding: European Union funding through programs such as LIFE SALLINA for salt marsh conservation and LIFE Natur'Army for military terrain biodiversity

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Conservatoire manages a regional network of natural sites (regional nature reserves, Natura 2000 sites, sensitive natural areas) across the Pays de la Loire region and delivers ecological management, restoration and advisory services adapted to habitats such as peatlands, marshes, limestone slopes, wetlands and military terrains. It also animates regional conservation programmes (Invasive Exotic Species network, Loire and salt marsh LIFE projects, species action plans), runs free public nature activities and volunteer workdays, publishes environmental guides, and signs long-term Obligations réelles environnementales (ORE) stewardship contracts with landowners.

Product overview

The Conservatoire d'espaces naturels des Pays de la Loire is a non-profit association (association loi 1901) agréé by the State and the Region of Pays de la Loire. Rather than a unified software product, it offers a portfolio of environmental services centered on conservation, protection, management, and valorization of natural spaces and biodiversity. Its core offerings include ecological management services (Prestations de gestion écologique) adapted to various habitats, public nature activities (Activités Nature) including guided tours and volunteer workdays, management of natural reserves and protected sites, and environmental publications such as the Cahier d'activités nature and regional peatland guidebooks. The organization operates across three locations in Nantes, Angers, and Le Mans, working in partnership with public institutions, local communities, and the national Fédération des Conservatoires d'espaces naturels network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prestations de gestion écologique (Ecological management and preservation services) Field ecological management and preservation services adapted to a range of natural environments including peatlands, limestone slopes, marshes, wetlands and areas undergoing ecological closure. Delivered to public and private partners requiring on-the-ground habitat management.
• Gestion de sites naturels et réserves (Natural site and reserve management) Operational management, animation, advisory, communication and biodiversity knowledge services for a network of natural sites including regional nature reserves, Natura 2000 sites and sensitive natural areas (ENS) across Pays de la Loire.
• Activités Nature (Nature discovery activities) Seasonal calendar of nature exploration activities including guided tours, participatory counts, nature walks and volunteer conservation workdays, open free of charge to the general public to discover natural environments, their history, fauna and flora.
• Cahier d'activités nature (Nature activity book) A 150-game activity book published by the national network of Conservatoires d'espaces naturels, designed for children (from 8 years old) and families to discover plants and animals representative of natural environments. Sold publicly at €9.90.
• Livret 'Des tourbières en Pays de la Loire' (Peatlands guidebook) Public guidebook explaining what peatlands are, how to identify them, why they are of interest, where they are located in Pays de la Loire, how they function and what threatens them.
• Obligations réelles environnementales (ORE) long-term stewardship contracts Binding 99-year environmental obligations signed with agricultural landowners to maintain ecological features (hedgerows, ponds, permanent grasslands, riverbanks). First ORE in Pays de la Loire signed June 2021 with Ferme de la Maison Neuve for 26 hectares.
• Réseau Espèces Exotiques Envahissantes (Invasive Exotic Species network) Regional EEE coordination, early-detection and rapid-response service operated as the first regional invasive species network in France (since 2001), with regional referents for flora, birds, mammals and aquatic fauna and a public-facing observation platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Obligations réelles environnementales (ORE) signed in Pays de la Loire - 99-year contracts ensuring permanent environmental protection
• +2 more outcomes

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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• SAFER Pays de la LoireflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Framework partnership convention signed in 2021 defining collaboration for land management in rural areas. SAFER has been partner since Conservatoire's creation in 2014, sitting on the Board of Directors. Collaborates on biodiversity integration in rural land transactions and environmental clauses.
• Ferme de la Maison NeuveflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021First ORE (Obligations réelles environnementales) contract in Pays de la Loire signed June 2021. 99-year commitment covering 26 hectares of organic farm in Vendée. Landowners committed to maintaining hedgerows, ponds, permanent grasslands, and riverbanks.
• École militaire de SaumurflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership since 2021 for ecological management of Champ de manœuvres des Hauts de Terrefort (115 hectares). Joint conservation actions for biodiversity preservation on military terrain under LIFE Natur'Army project.
• RTE (Réseau de Transport d'Électricité)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021June 2021 transfer of 6 hectares of wetlands at Île Mindine in Loire estuary (Natura 2000 site) for environmental management. CEN now manages the site for optimal ecological management.
• Fédération des Conservatoires d'espaces naturels (FCEN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014National federation grouping 24 departmental or regional conservatories protecting 180,000 hectares across metropolitan and overseas France. The Conservatoire is a member sharing common values of the Charter of Conservatoires d'espaces naturels and develops knowledge, protection, management, and enhancement actions for biodiversity and natural heritage.
• Conservatoire botanique national de Brest (CBNB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional reference for invasive vascular flora, one of four structures identified as regional EEE (Invasive Exotic Species) referents. Collaborates on the EEE network animation and monitoring protocols.
• Office français pour la biodiversité (OFB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench biodiversity office serving as regional referent for invasive exotic birds and mammals. Formerly ONFS (Office national de la faune sauvage), collaborates on EEE network animation.
• Association régionale des fédérations de pêche des Pays de la Loire (ARFPPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional fishing federation serving as regional referent for invasive aquatic fauna. Collaborates on EEE network for managing invasive species in aquatic environments.
• Parc naturel régional Loire-Anjou-TourainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional natural park partner for conservation projects including TEN (Territoire engagé pour la nature) actions and management of natural spaces in the territory.
• Parc naturel régional de BrièrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional park partner for collaborative conservation work including Ail des Landes protection project and various biodiversity initiatives.
• Cap AtlantiquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinator of LIFE SALLINA project for restoration of 390+ hectares of salt marshes. Conservatoire participates in land animation and communication actions.
• Département de la VendéeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership convention for natural space conservation. Department supports various conservation projects including sensitive natural areas (ENS) labeling.
• Golf des 24h00 au MansminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGolf course partnership for biodiversity-friendly land management practices around the golf facility.
• Voies Navigables de FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination on Loire River rebalancing project between Ponts-de-Cé and Nantes. CEN participates in public information sessions for the project.
• LPO AnjoucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBird Protection League Maine-et-Loire, partner in bat action plans, citizen science campaigns, and various conservation projects.
• APNO (Association pour la Protection de la Nature aux Pays des Olonnes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature protection association collaborating on Marais des Bourbes conservation and joint discovery activities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Conservatoire du littoral: Public coastal land-conservation agency acquiring and managing threatened coastal sites. Comparable in land stewardship mandate and partnership with public landowners, focused on a narrower geographic niche.
• WWF France: Large international conservation NGO with French operations covering species, habitat, and policy advocacy. Competes for funding and visibility on biodiversity issues at national scale.
• Office français de la biodiversité (OFB): National public agency coordinating biodiversity policy, EEE management, and Natura 2000 oversight. The Conservatoire coordinates directly with OFB as a regional referent for invasive birds and mammals.
• France Nature Environnement (FNE): National federation of environmental associations coordinating policy advocacy and grassroots mobilization across France. Overlaps with the Conservatoire's mission on habitat protection and public engagement.
• LPO France (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux): Major national biodiversity NGO with overlapping species conservation, public engagement, and policy advocacy in France. Competes for grants, volunteers, and ORE-type landowner partnerships.

Emerging players

• LPO Anjou: Regional LPO affiliate active in Pays de la Loire, partnering with the Conservatoire on bat action plans and citizen science. Directly comparable as a local conservation NGO collaborating on overlapping programs.

Regional players

• Parcs nationaux de France: Federation of France's national parks operating protected area management and public engagement models. Comparable mission on protected area governance, though at the more prestigious national-park tier.

Direct peers

• Conservatoire d'espaces naturels de Normandie: Sister CEN operating in another French region with identical mission (site management, Natura 2000 animation, ecological restoration) and shared FCEN protocols. Direct functional peer.
• Réserves naturelles de France: National federation of natural reserves focused on site management, conservation, and public engagement — directly parallel to the Conservatoire's core service offering.
• Fédération des Conservatoires d'espaces naturels (FCEN): National federation of 24 CENs protecting 180,000 hectares in France. The Conservatoire is a member and shares its Charter, governance model, and operational playbook, making FCEN the closest institutional peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cenpaysdelaloire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conservatoire-d'espaces-naturels-des-pays-de-la-loire
• Instagraminstagram.com/cen_paysdelaloire

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Conservatoire d'espaces naturels des Pays de la Loire