Néosylva

What Néosylva does

Néosylva is a Nantes-based forestry finance and management company founded in 2017 by Jean-Guénolé Cornet (former Director General of ONF International) that targets small private forest owners in France. The company's core model is a long-term (40–99 year) contract structure that separates land ownership from biological capital management: Néosylva deploys 100% of the capital required for forestry work (planting, tending, protection, harvesting), engages independent forestry professionals to execute the operations, and shares the revenue from wood sales with the property owner at the end of the forest cycle. Contracts are notarized and attached to the parcel, surviving ownership changes, with termination only possible after year 7 (renewal) or year 15 (improvement) against a predefined indemnity. Minimum eligible parcel size is 2 hectares, and 85% of accompanied owners previously lacked any sustainable management document, evidencing the addressable management deficit in France's ~3.5 million private forest owners.

The company's product surface spans five service modules — Boisement (afforestation of abandoned agricultural land), Renouvellement (renewal of aging or declining stands), Amélioration (improvement of existing stands), Offre peuplier (poplar), and Boisement de vignes arrachées (post-vineyard land afforestation) — alongside a Carbone Entreprise offering that monetizes Label Bas Carbone certified carbon credits from forest management and afforestation projects (80,000+ tonnes CO2 validated or in validation, 511 projects, 3,521 hectares). Supporting technology includes the Sylvamap web tool for Simple Management Plan tracking, a proprietary environmental charter with five pillars, and an in-development multi-criteria decision-support system (Labcom Néosilva) co-developed with UMR Silva (INRAE/AgroParisTech/University of Lorraine). The company became a société à mission on 30 June 2025 and operates with eight regional Forest Managers covering all of metropolitan France, backed by a network of 1,161 industry professional partners.

Go-to-market is relationship-driven and direct: regional managers hold local information meetings, host the annual Rendez-vous annuel gathering, and exhibit at industry events (Game Fair, FOREXPO, Euroforest), supplemented by industry professional referrals. Revenue mechanics combine (i) deferred wood-sale revenue sharing aligned to 40–99 year cycles, (ii) near-term Label Bas Carbone credit sales to corporate ESG buyers, and (iii) emerging environmental patronage, biodiversity sponsorship, and corporate land-revitalization services. Total funding raised is €3.5 million across two rounds (€2M in 2022, €1.5M in 2025), with strategic shareholders including Banque des Territoires (Caisse des Dépôts) and Everwood. The company is privately held with no parent entity, managed 3,000 hectares as of November 2025 (vs. 1,000 ha in 2023), serves 417 property owners, and targets 10,000 hectares under management by 2030.

Name

Néosylva

Legal name

Néosylva

Website

https://neosylva.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Néosylva is a French forestry finance and management company that funds 100% of forestry work on small private forests (minimum 2 hectares) via 40–99 year contracts and shares wood-sale revenue with owners, while also selling Label Bas Carbone carbon credits to corporate buyers across metropolitan France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forest Management Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forest Management & Silviculture Services (Cruising, Planning, Compliance) (IMAMAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Silviculture & Reforestation Services (Nurseries, Planting, Tending) (IMAMAJAC), Timberland Carbon & Natural Capital Project Development (Offsets/REDD+) (AFAMAKAH), Forest Ecosystem Services & Carbon/Conservation Programs (AFAMAAAJ)

Keywords

• Forest financing services
• Private forest management
• Carbon credit forestry
• Afforestation services
• Sustainable forestry consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Nantes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wood sale revenue sharing: Néosylva finances all forestry work (planting, tending, protection, harvesting) and recovers its investment through a share of revenues when wood is harvested and sold at the end of the forest cycle. Revenue is shared between the company and the property owner according to pre-agreed terms in the contract. This is the primary long-term revenue stream aligned with forest growth cycles of 40-99 years.
2. Carbon credit sales to enterprises: Néosylva develops Label Bas Carbone (French government-certified low-carbon label) forest projects. Companies purchase carbon credits generated by forests that sequester CO2. Néosylva commits to reinvesting all carbon revenues to co-finance its operations. Approximately 30% of surfaces under management are eligible for the Low-Carbon Label. Projects cover reforestation of agricultural land and restoration of degraded stands.
3. Environmental services: Potential future revenue from environmental services such as water regulation, soil protection, biodiversity preservation, and landscape amenities, which may generate additional remuneration for forest owners and Néosylva as management fees.
4. Tree planting and land revitalization services: Following a first successful experience assisting a company in land revitalization, Néosylva is developing an offering to analyze needs, qualify opportunities, and build proposals for companies with land to revalue, including planting services.
5. Environmental patronage / biodiversity sponsorship: Néosylva develops a portfolio of environmental patrons (companies) interested in contributing financially to forest projects, valuing environmental benefits such as biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation, soil and water preservation, and constructing proposals adapted to the expectations of corporate patrons.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Néosylva finances 100% of forestry work (planting, tending, harvesting) on small private French forests of at least 2 hectares through notarized long-term contracts (40–99 years) attached to the land. The company manages the forests via a network of independent forestry professionals, retains a share of timber-sale revenue, and shares the remainder with the property owner. It also develops Label Bas Carbone certified carbon-credit projects sold to corporate clients under its "Carbone Entreprise" offer.

Product overview

Néosylva offers a unified platform for financing and managing private forests in France. The core product is long-term forest investment and management, where Néosylva provides capital to finance forestry work, manages forests over 40-99 year cycles, and shares timber revenue with property owners. Service modules include Boisement (afforestation), Renouvellement (renewal), Améliorisation (improvement), Offre peuplier (poplar plantations), and Boisement de vignes arrachées (vineyard land afforestation). A complementary service, Carbone Entreprise, provides corporate carbon credits from labeled low-carbon forest projects. Néosylva also provides access to Sylvamap, an internal online tool for forest management tracking. The company operates as a Société à Mission since June 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Néosylva Forest Financing and Management
• Boisement (Afforestation)
• Renouvellement (Renewal)
• Amélioration (Improvement)
• Offre Peuplier (Poplar Service)
• Boisement de vignes arrachées (Vineyard Conversion to Forest)
• Carbone Entreprise (Corporate Carbon Credits)

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000 hectares of forest under management as of late 2025, growing from 1,000 hectares in 2023
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• MigFoRest (Interreg Europe North-West Europe program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Néosylva collaborates since early 2024 on MigFoRest ('Assisted Migration to increase Forest Resilience in NWE'), a European Interreg NWE program with 6 partners from Belgium, Germany, and France. The project aims to strengthen forest ecosystems against climate change through assisted migration of tree species, establish demonstration sites, create three seed orchards, and develop training materials. Néosylva identifies private owner sites for assisted migration plots, coordinates planting work, and contributes to communication and educational content.
• UMR Silva (INRAE, AgroParisTech, University of Lorraine)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Néosylva partnered with UMR Silva research unit to establish Labcom Néosilva, a laboratory joint supported by the French National Research Agency (ANR). The Labcom develops a multi-criteria decision-support system covering forest stand diagnosis, silvicultural itinerary design, and long-term impact monitoring. Researchers include Meriem Fournoir (Director of UMR Silva), Maxence Arnould (AgroParisTech), and Noé Dumas. Two territories: Grand-Est and Grand-West France.
• Forestry France (Thomas de Baglion and Charlotte Gicquiaud)supportingTechnology or IntegrationForestry France provides drone imagery analysis services and field applications for forest management. Presented at Néosylva's 2025 annual event, demonstrating aerial imaging technology for detecting stand stress, tracking parcel evolution, and prioritizing interventions.
• TimbTrack (Loïc Plauche Gillon)supportingTechnology or IntegrationTimbTrack provides satellite technology for forest diagnostics. Presented at Néosylva's 2025 annual event alongside Forestry France, offering technology for detecting stand stress and tracking parcel evolution.
• Sylvamap (Alban Le Cour Grandmaison)supportingTechnology or IntegrationSylvamap provides intuitive web mapping tools for forest managers and owners to pilot their Simple Management Plan from their computer. Néosylva provides property owners and managers with access to Sylvamap for forest management tracking.
• MaForêt (Sarah Forest)supportingTechnology or IntegrationMaForêt is a web and mobile application enabling forest owners and professionals to print customized maps, prepare and track management documents, and access maps and data in the field even without network coverage.
• Fransylva (syndicat des propriétaires forestiers)supportingOthersFransylva, the forest owners' union, is recommended by Néosylva for liability insurance coverage for forest properties. Néosylva recommends Fransylva membership to property owners. Fransylva Loire Atlantique President Jean-François de Ramecourt participated in Néosylva's annual event as a guest speaker. Néosylva's President Antoine d'Amécourt is President of Fransylva.
• CNPF (Centre National de la Propriété Forestière)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNPF (Centre National de la Propriété Forestière) is the national center for private forest property. Its Director General Roland de Lary serves on Néosylva's Mission Committee. CNPF technicians such as Axel Viaud participate in Néosylva events. Néosylva works with regional CRPF offices for sustainable management document approval.
• France Nation VertesupportingOthersFrance Nation Verte is the most important national public subsidy program, providing 60% to 80% subsidies for forestry work costs, particularly reforestation. Néosylva helps property owners access these subsidies as part of its administrative support.
• Sylv'ACCTESsupportingOthersSylv'ACCTES offers flat-rate subsidies covering a portion of costs for a wide range of forestry operations, within its intervention zones. Néosylva helps property owners access these subsidies as part of its administrative support.
• Plantons Pour L'AvenirsupportingOthersPlantons Pour L'Avenir offers zero-interest loans without guarantees over 30 years for forestry projects. Néosylva helps property owners access these loans as part of its financial advisory support.
• Jean-Charles Bastien (former INRAE researcher)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNéosylva collaborates with Jean-Charles Bastien, former INRAE researcher, on climate adaptation research. Test plots are established with selected owners and monitored long-term following research center protocols. Data collected will be exploited, shared, and benefit the entire forestry sector.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• GreenWood Resources: Global timberland investment and asset management firm with operations across the US, Latin America, and Australasia. Comparable in professional institutional forest asset management, but at much larger scale and with broader geographic and species scope.
• New Forests: Global timberland and natural capital investment manager with institutional-scale portfolios in Australia, Southeast Asia, the US, and Latin America. Comparable business model (private capital + professional forestry management for institutional return), but at materially larger scale and geographic scope.
• Mirova Natural Capital: France-based natural capital investment fund (subsidiary of Natixis/Groupe BPCE) investing in forestry, agriculture, and ecosystem services. Comparable business model (natural capital equity investing) and target market (corporate ESG/impact capital), but operates at far larger scale and across broader asset classes.
• ONF (Office National des Forêts): French state forest operator managing public forests and providing technical services across France. Comparable in forest management, silviculture, and reforestation services, but serves public forests and operates as a public-sector incumbent with broader scope.

Direct peers

• Ecotree: French company enabling individuals and companies to co-finance forests for timber and carbon credits via online subscription model. Directly comparable in target market (French private/corporate forest financiers), revenue model (carbon + timber share), and product offering (subscription-based forest investment with management).
• Cairn Forest Investments: French private forestry investment firm offering forest acquisition, management, and group forest investment vehicles. Direct peer in French forest investment management for private owners, with similar focus on professionalizing small-property forest assets.
• Moringa Fund: Agroforestry investment fund for which founder Jean-Guénolé Cornet contributed to setup and deployment. Closely comparable in mission (private capital for sustainable forestry), but focused on international agroforestry rather than small French private forests.
• Forest Finance Group: Germany-based manager of sustainable forest investment funds for retail and institutional investors across Europe. Direct peer in European retail/institutional forest investment, sustainable forestry management, and timber-plus-carbon revenue sharing.

Emerging players

• Reforestum: European carbon forestry platform enabling companies and individuals to fund reforestation projects and receive verified carbon credits. Comparable in carbon-credit-driven forest investment model, but smaller scale and project-by-project rather than long-term property management.

Regional players

• Lyme Forests: UK-based firm enabling individuals and institutions to invest in UK forestry for timber and ecosystem services. Comparable model (retail-accessible forest investment with active management), but UK-focused rather than French.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/migforest-interreg-project-9426412ba
• Facebookfacebook.com/neosylvafrance2

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Néosylva