Deputy Executive Secretary, Bert Lenten, Retires

Bonn, 12 January 2018 – after a long and distinguished career in the CMS Family, Lambertus “Bert” Lenten, the Deputy Executive Secretary of CMS has retired.

Bert’s connection to CMS started when he was appointed interim Executive Secretary of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) in January 1996. Based in the Division for International Nature Conservation of the Directorate for Nature with the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture Nature and Fisheries in The Hague, Bert organized the first Meeting of the Parties, which took place at Somerset West, near Cape Town in 1999. He became the first Executive Secretary of AEWA, when the Secretariat was established in Bonn the following year. One of the major achievements of AEWA under Bert’s leadership was the multi-million-dollar project, Wings over Wetlands, which was implemented between 2006 and 2010 in partnership with other international organizations and national governments. The key outputs of Wings over Wetlands include the Critical Site Network (CSN) Tool and the Flyway Training Kit.

In January 2011, Bert’s appointment was confirmed as Deputy Executive Secretary of CMS in succession to Lahcen El Kabiri. Bert therefore played an instrumental role in the organization of three CMS COPs – Bergen 2011, Quito 2014 and most recently Manila 2017.

“Bert has been at the centre of CMS Family for two decades – and has played an important role in ensuring its successful development – first as head of the AEWA Secretariat in that Agreement’s formative years and latterly as Deputy Executive Secretary of CMS helping the Convention to punch its weight in the international environment arena.  We wish him well for a long and happy retirement.”, said Bradnee Chambers, Executive Secretary of CMS.

The main photograph shows Bert receiving commemorative gifts from Bradnee Chambers, Executive Secretary of CMS during the closing session of the CMS COP12, which was held in Manila in October.

If you would like to contact Bert, he can be reached at the following e-mail address: [email protected].
 

Last updated on 19 April 2018