Sacred Forests is an Amsterdam born, internationally operating social enterprise start up at the forefront of a ‘new’ yet ancient way to protect forests, Indigenous forest conservation.The founders of Sacred Forests are three successful white guys.
Great.
Great.
Not the demography one would normally entrust to protect forests and Indigenous Peoples.
But with decades of leadership in conservation, green business, and sustainable investing, what they lack in diversity, they more than make up for with the ability to ally commercial and Indigenous interests (that, and rugged good looks).
They believe in direct action, plain language, and scalable impact. With the right partners, in the right places, and the best teams.
Daniel Povel
Former Director Corporate Development, Triodos Bank
With a career in ethical investing, sustainable development and decades of experience working in international investments and financing, asset management and consumer banking, Daniel knows how to put money to good use.
Aart Van Veller
Founder of Vandebron
Co-founder and former Director of Vandebron, an online marketplace for sustainable energy with the goal of fuelling the Netherlands 100% sustainably by offering energy from independent Dutch producers directly to customers.
Philipp Kauffmann
Founder of Original Beans
(World's Most Sustainable Chocolate Company 2022-24)
(World's Most Sustainable Chocolate Company 2022-24)
After a career start in the Internet world, Philipp worked for the WWF and the UN on conservation issues around the globe. He follows the motto of his forefather, Georg Ludwig Hartig, who in 1793 wrote that "any wise forest management must use the forest in such a way that generations thereafter can draw at least as much advantage from it as the presently living generation has.”
Our team represents a coming together of Indigenous and Internationals
The team is woven from many strands: Indigenous wisdom keepers, leading eco-entrepreneurs, UN-ers, anthropologists, regenerative scientists, artists, and brand visionaries at the forefront of change.
Across time zones and disciplines we feel united by a singular mission—to preserve and restore the world’s essential Indigenous forests at speed and scale.
This is an alliance guided by the rhythm of the Earth and driven by the need to act.