Stichting Probos, Probos Foundation

What Stichting Probos, Probos Foundation does

Stichting Probos (Probos Foundation) is a Dutch non-profit knowledge institute founded in 1965 and headquartered in Wageningen, Netherlands. It operates across four work domains: data provisioning on forests and forest products, climate-smart and resilient forest management, forest expansion and tree planting, and sustainable forest-based value chains. The organization serves Dutch and European forest managers, policymakers, the timber sector, and conservation NGOs by collecting, analyzing, and disseminating forest data and by developing practical management tools and educational programs.

Probos's principal offerings are knowledge products rather than commercial software. Flagship assets include the Bosbarometer — an interactive website launched in 2025 that presents the state of Dutch forests and tracks policy objectives — and Thémis, a European sustainable-timber market survey. Additional outputs include reports, the Bosberichten newsletter, infographics, books, and the Bosacademie (Forest Academy) course program covering topics such as heritage forestry, forest on rich soils, and biodiversity-oriented lane management. The 2025 European wood-flow study co-authored with Metabolic Institute, funded by Built By Nature, quantified only 8% of 560 million m³ of annual European wood flows being routed to long-term carbon storage and identified 390-600 Mt CO2-eq of additional storage potential through cascading.

The organization employs approximately 19 staff and operates without fixed financing on a project basis, combining a business-oriented approach with an ideological mission of sustainable forest management. Revenue derives from project grants and partnerships with bodies such as the Inter-American Development Bank, Built By Nature, Dutch municipalities, and international certification and industry associations. It is governed by a Supervisory Board (Raad van Toezicht) and an Advisory Board (Raad van Advies), with no shareholders or parent company.

Name

Stichting Probos, Probos Foundation

Legal name

Stichting Probos

Website

https://probos.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stichting Probos is a Dutch non-profit knowledge institute, founded 1965 and based in Wageningen, that collects, analyzes, and disseminates data on forests and timber for policymakers, forest managers, the timber sector, and conservation organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forestry Research & Consulting

NAICS

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

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Forest Certification & Chain-of-Custody Services (FSC/PEFC/SFI) (IMAMAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), Ecosystem Services & Natural Capital Programs (Water, Biodiversity Credits, PES) (IMAMAJAK), GHG Accounting & Net-Zero/Decarbonization Planning (Scopes 1–3) (EUAHAJAC), Replanting, Infilling & Stand Rehabilitation (AFAMACAI)

Keywords

• Forest knowledge institute
• Sustainable forest management
• Timber market research
• Forest data analytics
• Forestry consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wageningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project-Based Funding: As a non-profit organization without fixed funding, Probos operates entirely on a project basis, combining a business-oriented approach with the ideological goal of promoting sustainable forest management. Revenue comes from secured project grants and partnerships rather than a fixed revenue stream.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stichting Probos is an independent non-profit knowledge institute that collects, analyzes, and disseminates data on forests and forest products and develops practical tools and research on sustainable forest management, climate-smart forestry, forest expansion, and sustainable forest-based value chains. It delivers this through reports, an interactive Bosbarometer monitoring platform, the Thémis timber market survey, and Bosacademie training courses, funded entirely on a project basis via grants and partnerships.

Product overview

Stichting Probos is a non-profit knowledge institute established in 1965, focused on sustainable forest management and forest expansion research in the Netherlands and internationally. The organization operates across four work domains: (1) Data Provisioning, (2) Climate-Smart Forestry, (3) More Forests and Trees, and (4) Sustainable Forest-Based Value Chains. Probos's main offerings include data collection and analysis, publications (Bosberichten newsletter, reports, key data and infographics), events and training (Bosacademie), and interactive tools such as the Bosbarometer for forest monitoring and Thémis for timber market tracking. The organization does not offer traditional software products but rather knowledge services, data products, and educational offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bosbarometer Interactive Dutch forest monitoring website that presents the state and developments of Dutch forests in an accessible and objective manner, serving as a tool for tracking how Dutch forests are performing and for monitoring policy objectives. Targeted at policymakers, forest managers, and the general public.
• Thémis Timber Market Survey Timber market survey tool that tracks European sustainable timber procurement and increases transparency in verified sustainably sourced timber markets. Used by timber traders, procurement professionals, and policymakers across Europe.
• Bosacademie (Forest Academy) Educational program offering courses and knowledge days for forest managers and land managers, including offerings such as Erfgoed in het bosbeheer (Heritage in Forest Management), Kennisdagen (Knowledge Days), and practical courses like Lanenbeheer voor vleermuizen (Lane Management for Bats).
• Conservation Timber Program Market development program for 'conservation timber' from community forests with verified sustainable management (FSC-certified), connecting municipalities in Europe with forest communities in Suriname, Bolivia, Guyana, and Guatemala. Facilitates FSC certification for community forests and creates market access for their timber products in municipal infrastructure such as benches, boardwalks, and bridges.

Quantifiable outcome

• Only 8% of 560 million m³ of wood entering European value chains is currently used for long-term carbon storage applications (>35 years), representing significant opportunity for improvement.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Amsterdam MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025Partnership within the Cities4Forests program where Amsterdam municipality sources conservation timber from community forests in Suriname. The timber is applied in municipal infrastructure such as benches, boardwalks, and bridges.
• Rotterdam MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025Partnership within the Cities4Forests program where Rotterdam sources conservation timber from community forests in Suriname, Bolivia, Guyana, and Guatemala. Products include benches, boardwalks, and bridges.
• Bigi Poika Community (Suriname)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025First FSC-certified community in Suriname (October 2025), achieved through Probos's conservation timber program. Probos facilitated the certification process and continues to support market access for their sustainable timber products.
• Metabolic InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the study 'Maximizing the carbon storage potential of wood - Redirecting and cascading EU27+UK wood flows', providing comprehensive systems-level assessment of wood use across European value chains.
• Wageningen University & Research (WUR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration with WUR on forest research and knowledge development, leveraging academic expertise and research capabilities.
• FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting FSC certification for forest communities, including Bigi Poika becoming Suriname's first FSC-certified community. Probos promotes FSC-certified timber through its conservation timber program.
• PEFCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on sustainable forest certification standards and promoting verified sustainable sourced timber in Europe.
• Rainforest AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on sustainable forest management initiatives and forest conservation efforts.
• Tropenbos InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on tropical forest management and sustainable timber value chains.
• ATIBT (Association technique internationale des bois tropicaux)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational association for tropical timber, supporting sustainable tropical timber market development.
• Le Commerce du Bois (LCB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean timber trade association supporting sustainable wood procurement and market transparency.
• FedustriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian textile and wood industry federation supporting sustainable forest-based value chains.
• Danish Timber Trade FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational timber trade federation supporting sustainable timber procurement in Denmark.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• IGN (Institut national de l'information géographique et forestière): France's national institute for geographic and forest information provides forest inventory, data, and remote-sensing services to French policymakers and the EU, a regional counterpart to Probos's Dutch data-provisioning role.

Others

• Wageningen University & Research (WUR): WUR is a long-standing Probos partner conducting forest and nature research; while it is a much larger academic institution rather than a direct competitor, it is the most relevant adjacent research partner in the Dutch forestry ecosystem.

Direct peers

• European Forest Institute: EFI is a pan-European forest science and policy organization that, like Probos, convenes research, data, and policy work on sustainable forestry and wood value chains across Europe. It is the most direct international peer in scope and mission.
• KNBV (Koninklijke Nederlandse Bosbouwvereniging): The Royal Dutch Forestry Association is a Dutch sector body for forest owners and managers, overlapping with Probos in knowledge dissemination, courses, and publications aimed at Dutch forestry practitioners.
• Skogforsk: Sweden's forest research institute delivers applied research, data, and tools to forest owners and policymakers, a direct functional analogue to Probos's Dutch forest data and management work.
• Tropenbos International: Tropenbos is a Dutch-based NGO focused on tropical forests and sustainable land use; it shares Probos's project-based knowledge-institute model and partners with Probos on conservation timber and community forestry.
• Thünen Institute: Germany's federal research institute for rural areas, forestry, and fisheries conducts applied forestry research, inventory, and policy advice for national and EU audiences, directly comparable to Probos's role for the Netherlands.

Broad incumbents

• FSC International: FSC sets the global forest certification standard and works with Probos on community certification, including the Bigi Poika certification in Suriname; it operates on a much larger scale but overlaps in certification and sustainable value chains.
• ATIBT (Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux): ATIBT is the international technical association for tropical timber that supports sustainable tropical timber markets, overlapping with Probos's conservation timber program in Suriname, Bolivia, Guyana, and Guatemala.
• PEFC International: PEFC is the world's largest forest certification system and a Probos partner; it competes and complements Probos in promoting certified sustainable timber across European supply chains.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stichting-probos-probos-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stichting Probos, Probos Foundation