More forest and trees
Knowledge and advisory center for forest expansion
Forests and trees are indispensable for both people and nature. They are home to a wealth of plant and animal species, filter particular matter from the air, capture CO₂, purify and retain water, provide cooling, and are a favorite destination for recreation. As such, forests can play a crucial role in addressing major societal challenges. At the same time, the Netherlands has, after Malta, the smallest proportion of forest relative to its total land area of all European countries. This is why Probos is committed to expanding the forested area and enhancing the forest-water mosaic in rural landscapes.
We do this by developing and sharing knowledge, tools, and practical examples—not only in the field of forestry and planting, but also in spatial integration, smart multifunctional land use, and cost-benefit analyses.
Probos is the knowledge and advisory center for forest expansion: from idea generation to planning and implementation, and everything involved in the route to more forests.
Our work focuses on the following themes:
- National forest broker
- Natural forest expansion
- Carbon certificates
- Support to Provinces
Knowledge and advisory center for forest expansion
Forests and trees are indispensable for both people and nature. They are home to a wealth of plant and animal species, filter particular matter from the air, capture CO₂, purify and retain water, provide cooling, and are a favorite destination for recreation. As such, forests can play a crucial role in addressing major societal challenges. At the same time, the Netherlands has, after Malta, the smallest proportion of forest relative to its total land area of all European countries. This is why Probos is committed to expanding the forested area and enhancing the forest-water mosaic in rural landscapes.
High-value timber applications
Exploring opportunities for using fast-growing broadleaf timber species in construction – a supply chain project
In Europe, coniferous forests in particular are experiencing a decline in vitality and increased tree mortality. Forest managers are investing in reforestation, forest restoration, and improved forest management, which also contributes positively to CO₂ storage. From a biodiversity perspective, revitalization efforts are focused on increasing the proportion of broadleaf tree species.
Support of Province of Fryslân
In September 2022, the Frisian Trees and Forests Strategy (co-authored by Stichting Probos) was adopted by the Provincial Council. This strategy is the regional interpretation of the National Forest Strategy and outlines how the Province of Fryslân aims to contribute to increased CO₂ sequestration, biodiversity and improve landscape quality.
National ‘Forest Agent’
Forest for the Future
In the Dutch National Forest Strategy released in November 2020, the ambition was set to increase the forest area in the Netherlands by 10% by 2030. The forest expansion is intended to contribute to national biodiversity and climate goals. Achieving this target is not a given—it requires land and funding. There are many initiatives to realise forest expansion, ranging from small private efforts to large corporations seeking to reduce their ecological footprint. Yet, landowners and funders who wish to plant forests and trees often struggle to find each other. Moreover, forest expansion involves a range of spatial planning and legal processes.
Carbon credits for agroforestry
Since June 2021, it has been possible to apply for carbon certificates from the National Carbon Market Foundation (SNK) for projects that sequester CO₂ through the planting of new forests and trees outside of forested areas. Farmers who implement agroforestry plantings—such as silvopasture (tree meadows) or linear plantings like hedgerows—can apply for carbon certificates. By selling these certificates, they can generate additional income to support the business model of agroforestry-based farming.
Exploration of ecosystem services of trees along the main road network
Roadside verges are necessary for the functioning of roads. Additionally, verges can serve other functions, for example, for nature. For Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management), traffic safety and smooth traffic flow are the top priorities. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management wants to investigate whether Rijkswaterstaat can use its road verges to contribute to the objectives of the National Forest Strategy.
