“We want to prove that another type of forestry is possible and profitable, one that respects forests and all the ecosystem services they provide us,” emphasizes Florent Skawinski.
This idea came to the young man after watching a documentary during the lockdown, which had a shocking effect on him, as he had previously believed that forests were among the last preserved bastions in France. The documentary, The Time of Forests by François-Xavier Drouet, concluded with a reference to a citizen forestry group, Avenir forêt. Florent Skawinski now knows what he wants to do, having never considered creating his own business before.
He starts by forming a forestry group. The project has evolved, but the goal remains the same: to bring citizens, especially urban ones, back to the forest, reconnecting them with nature and the forest-wood sector. Because to protect these ecosystems, one must first know them.
The principle proposed by Florent is simple: starting from 1000 euros, one can obtain shares in the company, which allows for a 25% tax advantage.
“We will do everything to produce wood from this forest, as the sector is important. It heats us, builds our houses, makes our furniture, and wood is a renewable material,” he explains. “But we must never take more than what the forest can produce, and we should prioritize a mix of tree species.”
The role of Cerf Vert is also to bring together “those in rural areas who depend on the sector and have a very pragmatic view of forest management, and urban dwellers who would like to put the forest under glass. We need to integrate connections in all this and show the realities on the ground, but also where we need to go for the forest to be respected.”
On the associative side, the mission is to raise awareness, educate about forests and the benefits they provide us, such as filtering groundwater and preserving biodiversity. It is also about presenting the sector, especially to young people who are out of school. A sector that is hiring and needs young people who are aware of environmental issues.
“I hope we can reap the fruits of our efforts in 20, 30, 40 years, on the scale of a forest, in short. We are fighting for the next 50/100 years,” concludes Florent Skawinski.
