SYLVA NOVA

What SYLVA NOVA does

Sylva Nova is a Belgian-headquartered forestry management firm founded in 1994 by Pierre Hermans, operating primarily in Belgium and France with a nine-person specialist team based across Saive (operational HQ), Argenteau (legal seat and 35 Ha forest laboratory), and Nancy (French branch). The company provides end-to-end silvicultural services for private, public, and institutional forest owners — including management plan development, harvest planning and marking, wood sales, stand reconstitution, and FSC/PEFC certification — managing approximately 3,800 hectares and planting or regenerating roughly 1.2 million trees per year. Its service portfolio also spans reforestation and forest landscape restoration, environmental and forest impact studies, and the Living Lab Forestier participatory methodology developed with AgroParisTech. Sylva Nova maintains a 172-hectare multi-site forest laboratory (Argenteau, Mirepoix, Vertheuil–Saint Germain d'Esteuil, Vézelay, Castel-Sarrazin) used to test traditional and prospective silvicultural methods.

The company monetizes through professional-services fees, primarily on a quote-based, multi-year contract model aligned to forest management plans, plus discrete project fees for reforestation, certification management, and consulting assignments. It holds the first and only private binational FSC group certification in Belgium and France (FSC-C137690), the FSC Services Ecosystémiques certification, PEFC capability, and TGBS evaluation capacity, and is a member of FSC Belgium's Board of Directors and FSC International's Economic North Chamber. The customer and partner ecosystem is unusually broad for its size: D'Ieteren (strategic investor since March 2025), Reforest'Action, Jane Goodall Institute Belgium, Go Forest, International Tree Foundation, Trees for All, AgroParisTech, KU Leuven, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (ULiège), European Forest Institute, UNECE, FAO, ELO, and Fondation Solar Impulse. Geographic reach spans Belgium and France at the core, with reforestation and certification projects documented in Spain (Hornachuelos) and Italy (Esperia).

Name

SYLVA NOVA

Legal name

SYLVA NOVA

Website

https://sylvanova.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sylva Nova is a Belgian-founded (1994) forestry management firm providing silviculture, FSC/PEFC certification, reforestation, and Living Lab consulting to private, public, and institutional forest owners across Belgium, France, and broader Europe, with a nine-person specialist team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forestry Management Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Timberland Operations Planning & Contractor Management (AFAMAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reforestation & Afforestation Services (Planting, Site Prep, Regeneration) (IMAMAAAE), Controlled Wood / Due Diligence / Risk Assessment Services (AFAMALAC), Forest Ecosystem Services & Carbon/Conservation Programs (AFAMAAAJ), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Forest management services
• FSC certification services
• Reforestation and restoration
• Sustainable forestry consulting
• Ecosystem services certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Saive

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Forest Management Services: Comprehensive forest management services for private and public forest owners including management plan development, silvicultural itineraries, harvest planning and marking, wood sales, stand reconstitution through planting and assisted natural regeneration, and FSC/PEFC certification.
2. FSC Certification Services: Complete FSC certification process management including preliminary analysis of forest management plans, FSC standards compliance verification, administrative procedures, group membership, annual forest audits and compliance monitoring, and sustainable management recommendations.
3. Reforestation and Restoration Projects: Custom reforestation and forest preservation projects across Europe including afforestation, reforestation, poor stand conversion, forest heritage conservation, ecological corridor development, natural regeneration valorization, fire prevention measures, and wetland protection.
4. Consulting and Studies: Advisory and study services including environmental compensation dossiers for infrastructure projects, technical working group participation, international scientific consortium projects, forest impact studies, environmental and forest communication assistance, and information/training sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sylva Nova provides comprehensive forest management services for private, public, and institutional forest owners in Belgium and France, including silvicultural planning, harvest marking, wood sales, stand reconstitution, FSC and PEFC certification management, reforestation and forest landscape restoration, and technical consulting/studies. The company also operates a Living Lab Forestier participatory methodology developed with AgroParisTech and runs its own 172 Ha forest laboratory to test silvicultural innovations.

Product overview

Sylva Nova is a forestry management company founded in 1994 offering an integrated portfolio of forest management services centered on sustainable European forest stewardship. The core offerings include Gestion forestière (Forest Management) for Belgian and French forests, Certifications FSC® (FSC and PEFC certification management), Reforestation and forest landscape restoration, Bureau d'études et consultance (Studies & Consulting), and Living Lab Forestier (participatory innovation). The company also offers specialized certifications including FSC® Services Ecosystémiques and TGBS (The Global Biodiversity Standard). Sylva Nova maintains its own forest laboratory of 172 hectares across five locations in Belgium and France for operational testing of silvicultural methods. The company has planted or regenerated an average of 1.2 million trees per year and manages 3,800 hectares of forest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gestion forestière (Forest Management) Comprehensive forest management for forests in Belgium and France on behalf of private and public owners, including sustainable management document development, silvicultural planning, harvest marking, wood sales, stand reconstitution, and FSC/PEFC certification. Target audience: private, public, and institutional forest owners in Belgium and France.
• Certifications FSC® (FSC Group Certification Management) End-to-end management of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification under Sylva Nova's binational group certification FSC-C137690, covering preliminary analysis of forest management plans, FSC standards compliance verification, administrative procedures, group membership, annual forest audits, and sustainable management recommendations. Target audience: forest owners seeking group FSC certification.
• Reforestation et restauration de paysages forestiers Custom reforestation, preservation, and forest landscape restoration services across Europe and beyond, covering afforestation, reforestation, poor stand conversion, forest heritage conservation, ecological corridor development, natural regeneration valorization, fire prevention measures, and wetland protection. Target audience: corporations, NGOs, institutions, and landowners seeking verified restoration impact.
• Bureau d'études et consultance (Studies & Consulting) Forestry advisory and study services including environmental compensation dossiers for infrastructure projects, technical working group participation, international scientific consortium projects, forest impact assessments, environmental and forest communication assistance, and information/training sessions. Target audience: infrastructure developers, public agencies, NGOs, and scientific consortia.
• Living Lab Forestier Participatory forest innovation approach that co-constructs shared solutions to complex forest management problems by involving diverse stakeholders (Public-Private-Population) and placing forest users at the heart of consultation and decision-making processes. Target audience: public forest owners, municipalities, and peri-urban forest managers facing multi-stakeholder usage conflicts.
• Certification FSC® Services Ecosystémiques Supplementary FSC certification to standard FSC Forest Management that focuses on seven ecosystem services delivered by forests: biodiversity protection, carbon sequestration, water resources, soil conservation, recreational services, cultural values and practices, and air quality. Enables forest owners to financially valorize their management efforts through quantification and recognition of services rendered. Target audience: forest owners seeking monetization of ecosystem services.
• TGBS (The Global Biodiversity Standard) Evaluation Global biodiversity standard assessment that recognizes and encourages biodiversity protection, restoration, and improvement through long-term solutions, guaranteeing that tree planting, habitat restoration, and agroforestry practices protect, enhance, and restore biodiversity. Target audience: reforestation project developers, landowners, and conservation organizations seeking biodiversity standard validation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,800 Ha under active forest management
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• AgroParisTechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing methodological support for Living Lab Forestier initiatives. Collaboration involves Maxence Arnould and team in developing participatory innovation approaches for forest management planning and citizen engagement.
• Reforest'ActionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for reforestation projects with shared commitment to forest restoration and environmental impact.
• Jane Goodall Institute BelgiummajorGTM or Marketing PartnerConservation partner collaborating on forest preservation and restoration projects.
• Go ForestmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerForestry partner for collaborative forest management and reforestation initiatives.
• International Tree FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for tree planting and forest restoration initiatives supporting biodiversity.
• Trees for AllmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for reforestation and biodiversity projects with focus on verifiable environmental impact.
• Gembloux Agro Bio Tech (ULiège)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner including Professor Jean-François Bastin, collaborating on forest research and ecosystem studies, particularly for Mirepoix forest management.
• KU LeuvenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner including Professor Bart Muys (forest ecology), contributing to scientific research and forest policy studies.
• UNECE (Section Forêts et Bois - Genève)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPermanent member of expert group on Monitoring Sustainable Forest Management. Research and work contributing to evaluation of temperate forest resources and sustainability of their management.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation - Rome)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert participation in Forest Communicators Network contributing to international forest communication and monitoring efforts.
• European Forest Institute (EFI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on forest sector issues, challenges, and solutions in consortium with other research centers and universities.
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSylva Nova is member of FSC Belgium Board of Directors and Economic North Chamber of FSC International. Holds binational group certification FSC-C137690.
• ELO / Wildlife Estates LabelmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in European Landowners' Organization supporting wildlife estate recognition and sustainable land management practices.
• Fondation Solar ImpulseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation membership supporting clean and profitable solutions for the environment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EcoTree: French sustainable forestry investment and management company that acquires and manages forests for individual and corporate investors. Directly comparable to Sylva Nova in combining forest management, certification and reforestation-as-a-service for ESG-oriented clients in France and adjacent markets.
• Reforest'Action: France-based reforestation specialist that designs and delivers corporate reforestation and biodiversity projects across Europe. Overlaps with Sylva Nova on reforestation project delivery and is a named partner in Sylva Nova's ecosystem.
• PUR Projet: French corporate-sustainability firm implementing regenerative forestry, agroforestry and ecosystem restoration projects for enterprises. Comparable to Sylva Nova on B2B reforestation and ecosystem-services value proposition.
• Société Forestière (Caisse des Dépôts group): French forestry asset manager managing institutional timberland portfolios for investors. Highly comparable to Sylva Nova's institutional-forest-owner segment, though operating at significantly larger scale under the CDC umbrella.
• Pro Silva: Pan-European federation promoting close-to-nature, continuous-cover forestry. Highly aligned with Sylva Nova's stated close-to-nature silvicultural approach and overlaps with its consulting and knowledge-exchange activities.

Broad incumbents

• Office National des Forêts (ONF): French state-owned national forest office managing public forests and providing forestry services. Overlaps with Sylva Nova in public-forest management and certification but at national scale and with a much broader portfolio.
• CNPF (Centre National de la Propriété Forestière): French national body advising private forest owners on management, certification and forestry policy. Provides overlapping advisory and certification services to private owners in France — Sylva Nova's primary customer segment.

Regional players

• Natagora: Belgian nature conservation organization active in forest and habitat stewardship, especially in Wallonia where Sylva Nova is based. Comparable on forest biodiversity and ecosystem-service positioning in the same domestic geography.
• Fransylva: Federation representing private forest owners in France and providing management support services. Adjacent competitor/partner for Sylva Nova's private-forest-owner segment in the French market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkdLQWo2VMZTdQ0kYoUPBmA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sylva-nova

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 SYLVA NOVA