Lennart Ackzell has a MSc in Forestry (1985) and a PhD (1994) in Forest Genetics. After examine he gained professional experience from Canada, Kenya and Burkina Faso (3 years). He has further worked for the Swedish Forest Agency during 14 years in the field of forest regeneration and genetics and an extensive participation in Global, European and regional fora representing the Swedish Government and the Swedish Forestry. Today Ackzell works for the Federation of Swedish Forest Owners, consisting of 90 000 forest holdings covering over 6 million ha of Swedish Forest, as responsible for International relations.

After having worked in the Forestry Department in the Rural Development and Natural Resources Directorate in the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture for several years, he is currently working as a freelance consultant. Throughout his career, he had was exposed to the different aspects of land degradation, forestry and natural resources management, in Lebanon, and in the Near East Region in general and in the Arab World in particular, mainly through:

• Working as a TCDC consultant on Policy and Institutions with FAO in Syria for the preparation of the National Forest Policy.
• Contribution as a focal point to the preparation of the National Action Program to Combat Desertification.
• Strong implication in the development of the forestry sector in Lebanon.
• Evaluation of the UNDP-DDC program
• Strong implication in the FAO Commission on Mediterranean Forestry Issues, Sylva Mediterranea, mainly as a president from 2003 to 2005.
• Strong involvement in the different issues related to the FAO Near East Forestry Commission; preparation of the 16th Session of the NEFC in Beirut.
• Preparation and compilation of documents related to the forestry sector in the region.
• Preparation of a study with UNESCO on the Qadisha Valley in Lebanon (a Natural, Cultural and Religious Heritage)
• Contribution to the preparation of the Forestry Outlook Study and to different documents and reports on the forestry sector in Lebanon; strong involvement in the implementation of the criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management in Lebanon.
• Preparation of the base line documents for the initiation of a national dialogue on the forest policy, and presentation of these documents in national and local meetings and forums.
• Contribution as a Technical Cooperation from Developing Countries (TCDC) expert in the revision of the curriculum of the Arab Forest and Range Institute and preparation of a future development plan.
• Preparation of the National Action Program to Combat Desertification in Bahrain, in collaboration with UNEP-ROWA and UNDP.
• Participation at different international and regional meetings and workshops in the fields of land degradation, forestry and natural resources management.
• Contribution to the implementation of the SARD-M (Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Mediterranean Mountains) in Lebanon through the implementation of the PNTD approach (Participatory Negotiated Territorial Development).
• Teaching several courses related to ecotourism, Mediterranean ecosystems management, integrated rural development, fauna and flora of Lebanon, in situ and ex situ conservation, Mediterranean forestry and introduction to ecology.

In addition to his technical and academic expertise, he benefits of excellent communication and writing skills, which allows him to animate debates and discussion forums, and to write reports and documents in Arabic, English and French.

Language(s): English, Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil & Hindi

He was serving as the Senior Director of the Biotechnology Division at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia until December, 2008 when he officially retired from the Institute and went on to assume the position as the Chief Executive Officer of the Pulau Banding Foundation effective January of 2009. His present nature of work with the Foundation involves working with the State of Perak, Malaysia towards the protection and sustainable use of the bioresources present within the pristine Belum Rainforest.

He received his PhD from the University Pertanian Malaysia in 1989 specializing in Cryopreservation for the storage of germplasm of tropical recalcitrant seeds. He was first appointed as an ordinary member of the Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources, Rome Italy in 1976 to provide technical support on ex-situ, in vitro and cryopreservation of germplasm of tropical forest species. In 2007, he had the privilege to serve as the Chairman of the FGR Panel for the one term.

Chief Research Officer and Deputy Director (Research and Dev.) with the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI). Special expertise in Forest ecology, biodiversity and indigenous forests management, bamboo research and development, forest and plant genetic resources conservation and management, research management and administration, and scientific writing and editing.