Naturwald Akademie

What Naturwald Akademie does

Naturwald Akademie is an independent, non-profit research institute (gemeinnützige GmbH) founded in 2016 and headquartered in Berlin with research offices in Lübeck. The organization conducts applied research on the ecology, climate function and biodiversity of natural forests, and translates that research into public tools, policy advice, and education. Its core technology stack combines satellite-based earth observation with AI-supported analysis for forest monitoring: the Waldmonitor Deutschland platform maps the distribution of seven main tree species, detects drought stress and pest infestation, and provides near real-time forest fire detection, paired with the free pnV-Karte tool that shows which tree species would naturally grow on a given forest site.

The academy serves a deliberately broad set of user segments: private forest owners, municipal and state forest administrations, students and early-career researchers (through university teaching partnerships with HNE Eberswalde and HS Neubrandenburg and the annual European Natural Forest School), federal and state policymakers (via Policy Briefs), and the general public (via the Waldwissen knowledge portal and media outreach). Strategic partnerships with Greenpeace Germany, Öko-Institut, NABU, Hochschule Eberswalde, Hochschule Neubrandenburg, Remote Sensing Solutions GmbH, Wald-Allianz, and KonTRAStiv extend its reach beyond what a 9-person team could achieve alone.

Its business model is mission-driven rather than commercial: revenue is sourced from individual donations (the organization is certified gemeinnützig and can issue tax-deductible donation receipts) and project-based grants and partnerships, with core public tools provided free of charge and only the European Natural Forest School operating on a paid, annual cohort basis. There are no disclosed funding rounds, no external investors, and no parent company; the organization is privately financed and operates on an überparteilich (non-partisan) basis, with Dr. Torsten Welle serving as Managing Director and Head of Science and Research.

Name

Naturwald Akademie

Legal name

Naturwald Akademie gGmbH

Website

https://naturwald-akademie.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Naturwald Akademie is an independent German non-profit research institute (gGmbH, founded 2016) that combines satellite-based forest monitoring with ecological research to serve forest owners, policymakers, students, and the public across Germany and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Research and Forest Conservation

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Timberland GIS, Remote Sensing & Data Analytics (AFAMAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Timberland Asset Management & Consulting (AFAMAAAI), Forest Health & Protection Services (Pest/Disease, Invasive Species) (IMAMAJAF)

Keywords

• Forest monitoring
• Environmental research
• Conservation education
• Satellite imagery
• Forest policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and private funding: The organization is privately financed through donations from individuals. As a non-profit gGmbH, they can issue donation receipts for tax purposes in Germany.
2. Project-based funding: Research projects conducted in collaboration with universities and institutions, likely funded through grants and project partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Naturwald Akademie is an independent non-profit research institute that conducts scientific forest research, operates satellite-based forest monitoring (Waldmonitor Deutschland), publishes policy briefs and reports on forest condition, and delivers forest education programs such as the European Natural Forest School. Its work is aimed at policymakers, forest owners, students, and the general public.

Product overview

Naturwald Akademie operates as an independent research institute offering a portfolio of forest research, monitoring tools, and education products. The core product is Waldmonitor Deutschland, a satellite-based online mapping tool for monitoring German forests in real-time. Supporting products include the pnV-Karte for forest transformation guidance, Policy Briefs for policy advice, the Alternative Waldzustandsbericht research publication, Waldwissen knowledge platform, and European Natural Forest School educational program. The Reallabor Wald serves as a practical research and education venue. The offering combines satellite-based monitoring technology with ecological research to provide tools for forest conservation and climate protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• European Natural Forest School: Annual summer study program bringing together students from across Europe for education in forest ecology and natural forest management.
• Waldmonitor Deutschland
• Naturwald-Preis
• KonTRAStiv
• Wald-Allianz

Products and services

• Waldmonitor Deutschland A satellite-based forest monitoring platform providing nationwide, transparent data on the condition of Germany's forests, aimed at policymakers, forest owners, researchers, and the public.
• pnV-Karte (Potential Natural Vegetation Map) A reference map of Germany's potential natural vegetation, used by forest managers, conservation planners, and policymakers to guide forest restoration and conservation decisions.
• European Natural Forest School A structured educational program delivering forest ecology, conservation, and forest policy training to students, educators, and interested members of the public across Europe.
• Policy Briefs Concise publications that translate the institute's forest research into evidence-based policy recommendations, targeted at legislators, ministries, and public agencies.
• Alternative Forest Condition Report An independent report assessing the condition of Germany's forests, offering an alternative perspective to official federal reporting for policymakers, media, forest owners, and the public.
• Waldwissen platform An open online knowledge platform sharing forest science, monitoring insights, and conservation content with students, educators, journalists, and the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of German forest area found to be in nature conservation-poor condition
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species (ZGF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization. ZGF works on species conservation globally and shares the academy's interest in biodiversity protection in forests.
• Nationalpark Bayerischer WaldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBavarian Forest National Park partner. This oldest national park in Germany serves as a reference for natural forest ecosystems in Central Europe.
• Greenpeace GermanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on forest studies including Waldvision study with Öko-Institut analyzing climate and nature protection through forest management scenarios. Also co-published studies on ecosystem services and forest protection.
• Öko-InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Waldvision study for Greenpeace analyzing climate protection potential of German forests under different management scenarios. Study found up to 48 million tonnes CO2 could be bound annually through ecological forest management.
• Forum Umwelt EntwicklungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization working on environmental and development issues including forest policy.
• Eco Forestry FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish foundation supporting ecological forestry practices internationally.
• Wohllebens WaldakademieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization.
• Wald-AllianzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance for forests with a future, initiated by the academy. Develops ecosystem-based forest development concepts tested in partner forests. Creates space for forest practitioners to network beyond their own organizations.
• Remote Sensing Solutions GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborated with RSS GmbH to develop the Waldmonitor online platform using satellite data to track forest development in Germany 2016-2020.
• Hochschule für Nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde (HNE Eberswalde)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity teaching partnership for Social-Ecological Forest Management degree program. Academy provides instruction on ecological forestry and information technology applications.
• Hochschule NeubrandenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity teaching partnership delivering ecological forest knowledge and forestry practice seminars. Focus on technology for forest assessment and economic aspects of ecological management.
• Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde (Prof. Dr. Pierre Ibisch)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on e-Paper research showing wood combustion is not climate neutral. Prof. Ibisch leads research on forest and nature conservation.
• inter3 GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the KonTRAStiv project working to improve debate culture around forest issues and create conditions for productive dialogue between different forest perspectives.
• NABU (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint press release on public opinion survey showing 82% of Germans demand more state protection for forests as natural habitat. Majority value biodiversity protection over forestry use.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Wald-Allianz: Alliance for managed forests with a future, initiated by Naturwald Akademie. Develops ecosystem-based forest development concepts tested in partner forests. Comparable mission and close relationship as academy-led initiative.
• Fairventures Worldwide: Non-profit organization promoting reforestation and sustainable forestry in tropical regions, with similar combination of forest science, education, and digital tools. Comparable mission-driven non-profit model with focus on ecological forest transformation.

Direct peers

• Eco Forestry Foundation: Swedish foundation supporting ecological forestry practices internationally. Listed as a partner of Naturwald Akademie. Comparable in promoting ecological forestry and natural forest management across Europe.
• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland): Germany's largest nature and biodiversity conservation association. Co-published a public opinion survey with Naturwald Akademie on forest protection. Comparable in advocacy for biodiversity protection and forest policy in Germany.
• Wohllebens Waldakademie: German forest education and experience organization offering courses, seminars, and workshops on ecological forestry. Listed as a partner of Naturwald Akademie and operates in the same niche of transforming forest owners' practices through education.
• Greenpeace Germany: Major environmental NGO that collaborates with Naturwald Akademie on forest studies (Waldvision) and policy briefs. Comparable in environmental advocacy and research-driven public engagement on forest conservation policy in Germany.
• Öko-Institut: Independent research institute working on environment and sustainability. Co-developed the Waldvision study with Naturwald Akademie analyzing climate and nature protection through forest management scenarios. Adjacent research and policy advisory mandate on forest ecology.
• Remote Sensing Solutions GmbH (RSS): German remote sensing company that co-developed the Waldmonitor Deutschland platform with Naturwald Akademie. Comparable in satellite-based forest monitoring technology and AI-driven earth observation capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Germany: International non-profit promoting responsible forest management through certification. Comparable in setting standards for sustainable forestry practice and engaging forest owners; much larger scale and broader scope.
• Thünen Institute (Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institut): German federal research institute under the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture that conducts official Bundeswaldinventur (Federal Forest Inventory) work. Comparable in that it produces authoritative forest data and policy advice for Germany, but as a much larger government-funded body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/naturwald-akademie-ggmbh

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 Naturwald Akademie