History and background
Form international, established in 1992, is seated in The Netherlands and has offices at operational sites in Ghana and Tanzania. The firm started as a consultancy firm advising the forestry and timber trade sectors worldwide on the practical implementation of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) of natural forests, forest certification (FSC, PEFC, legal compliance), timber trade and reforestation.
Form was involved as the advisor to the first (FSC) certifications in tropical Africa, Indonesia, Eastern Europe and South America. The firm also played a significant role in developing and promoting the adoption of Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) in Africa. Experience in Africa, SE-Asia and Latin America with reforestation and forest plantations was gained through project design, establishment, management, and delivery of technical and financial advice.
Sustainable Forestry Investmentss
Since 2009, Form international is also investment partner in Sustainable Forestry Investments (SFI), a Dutch based investment company holding assets in Ghana and Tanzania. Form international provides long-term management, technical assistance and corporate governance to SFI’s investments.
Form valuations
In 2012, affiliate company Form valuations was created that delivers IFRS and IAS41 compliant forest asset valuation to (listed) companies, investment funds, banks and government bodies. Form has carried out valuations for > 2 million hectares of natural forest and > 40,000 hectares of forest plantations worldwide.
Form Ghana
Form Ghana is a forest plantation management company with 18,078 hectares under management, that actively restores degraded Forest Reserves with forest plantations and natural forest restoration. The company was established in 2007 and has planted over 7,500 ha with teak and indigenous species, to be expanded with 12,500 ha in the next 10 years.
SFI Tanzania
SFI Tanzania is a sisal and forest plantation management company of 9,145 hectares. Sisal and forest plantations cover a total planted area of more than 3,000 ha. On 6,000 ha of degraded and fallow land the company expands sisal plantations, afforestation and restoration of natural forest. Sisal fibre is processed and sold to international and local markets.
Company Milestones
| 2013: | Establishment and management of SFI Tanzania Ltd. Pioneering combined sustainable sisal and forestry company in Tanzania on degraded sisal estates. 9,145 hectares |
| 2012: | Establishment of Form valuations, special purpose company for forestry valuations, and forest economic and financial services |
| 2010: | Establishment of R&D agroforestry farm with Allanblackia for Unilever, in degraded Forest Reserve |
| 2009: | Establishment of investment company Sustainable Forestry Investments Netherlands (SFI NL) |
| 2007: | Establishment and management of Form Ghana Ltd. First FSC and VCS certified forest plantation company in Ghana in degraded Forest Reserves, 18,078 hectares |
| 2005: | Establishment as independent company |
| 1992: | Form international founded as part of Wijma Kampen (Form Ecology Consultants) |