Our ecosystem

Managing, restoring and increasing the forest coverage, this is what Sylva Nova is all about. Our services, our approach, our team and all of our stakeholders have been contributing to this mission since 1994.

Our purpose

Forests fulfil many functions at the same time: wood production, CO₂ capture, water filtration, soil protection, climate regulation, shelter for 80% of land animal species, reservoirs of biodiversity, heat waves reduction, menthal health and wellbeing… No technology can do as much and none of these functions should be overlooked. Yet forests are under threat.

Our ambition is to monitor nature, complementing and accelerating its work with our operational expertise, in order to conserve, restore and build the European forests of the future:

Forest management

Sylva Nova provides comprehensive forest management for Belgian and French forests on behalf of private and public owners.

FSC® certification

The FSC^® (Forest Stewardship Council^®) certification is the strictest standard for sustainable and balanced forest management. Sylva Nova handles its complete process.

Reforestation and restoration of forest landscapes

Sylva Nova is dedicating all its forestry expertise to work on numerous reforestation and forest-conservation projects in Europe and beyond.

Engineering and consultancy

Sylva Nova is keen to share its operational expertise and ongoing learning through various consultancy assignments and studies related to forestry issues.

Our approach

Sylva Nova advocates for long-term silviculture (CCF), based on naturalness and diversity.

We practise non-invasive silviculture, avoiding both brutal clear-cutting and record planting, favouring continuous cover and irregular growth, supporting and enriching natural regeneration, and focusing on the diversity of species and their adaptation to the site.

Our stakeholders

Our work is a team contribution, combining the expertise and commitment of a wide range of stakeholders.

Owners

We work in forests owned by private, public or institutional owners. Our role is to help them with their silvicultural projects and guide them towards more sustainable management. Certain forestry projects can benefit from the financial contribution and support of our customers and partners.

Clients and partners

We work for committed clients, to whom we propose projects to support and with whom we are keen to share our experience in the field. Our benchmark partners include: Reforest’Action, Jane Goodall Institute Belgium, Go Forest, Semper Silva, International Tree Foundation, Trees for All and more.

Technical service providers

We work with a network of experienced local contacts and service providers, with whom we design, document, implement and monitor projects. These include forest-management firms, nurseries, forestry contractors, silviculturists and more.

The projects undertaken by Sylva Nova are managed locally. All are carried out with respect for indigenous species and local practices and regulations.

Scientists and research programmes

We regularly participate in research programmes dedicated to the forestry sector, its challenges and solutions. Whether individually or in consortia with research centres, universities, scientists, governmental and non-governmental organisations and international bodies, we are keen to contribute our field expertise to studies that are concerned with the future of our forests (LIFE, EFI…).

Groups and associations

We ensure that we are informed, trained and involved in bodies whose mission or interests include forests. These include groups and think tanks such as: the European Forest Institute (EFI), Groupe d’Histoire des Forêts Françaises (GHFF), The Shift (the meeting point for the sustainable movement in Belgium), UNECE (United Nations Forestry and Timber Section) the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation), Libramont Cooperalia, Société Royale Forestière de Belgique (SRFB), Fransylva, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) and more.