Philippe

This project is led by Philippe Savignard, an aerospace engineer turned sustainability entrepreneur and CEO of PSD Conseil. This is a a regenerative afforestation initiative converting former agricultural land into a high-yield, fast-growing Paulownia plantation. Using the sterile hybrid Phoenix One®, the project aims to produce bio-based materials for the wood industry while sequestering atmospheric carbon. The project’s cultivation approach follows sustainable forestry principles, including staggered harvests, minimal inputs, and high biomass utilization.

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Philippe brings technical and strategic expertise to low-carbon transition projects. Under the company PSD Conseil, Philippe manages all aspects of project implementation, from plantation to GHG tracking. The team owns the 6.2-hectare land outright, eliminating tenure risks. 5 hectares are used for planting, avoiding nearby forest margins and exclusion zones. Initial planting occurred in 2024 (2 ha), with a second wave planned for 2025 (3 ha), totaling 4,040 Phoenix One® Paulownia trees. The project partners with:

• Arbre Paulownia (France) – Exclusive distributor of Phoenix One® trees and cultivation support.
• WeGrow CropTec GmbH (Germany) – Supplier of the Paulownia clones.
• KiriTec GmbH – Biomass purchaser and wood processor.
• GAEC des Pâquerettes – Local contractor for field preparation and maintenance.

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Key characteristics of the project include:

• Use of non-invasive, sterile Paulownia clones with high carbon uptake.
• Optimized planting density (800–820 trees/ha) and light-maximizing layout.
• Intermediate and final harvests improving trunk quality and biomass yield.
• Organic soil amendments, manual planting, and low-energy drip irrigation systems.

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This project aims to create long-term carbon sinks, support biodiversity, and generate sustainable rural livelihoods.