Photo courtesy of Lee White

CTrees is pleased to welcome Lee White, Ph.D., to its board of directors, effective September 2024. A forest ecologist and former minister of Gabon, White brings to CTrees’ board more than 40 years of experience in natural resource conservation and policy, focused primarily on Central Africa.

“I have had the privilege of knowing Lee since we started collaborating on forest carbon and biodiversity conservation across Gabon and Central Africa in 1997,” said Sassan Saatchi, Ph.D., CEO of CTrees. “Lee has been a strong advocate for CTrees’ work since our inception. His expertise will help solidify CTrees’ position as a leader in global nature-based climate solutions.”

White was appointed in July 2024 as special envoy to the Science Panel for the Congo Basin, an independent scientific body dedicated to synthesizing knowledge on status and threats to the world’s second largest rainforest. White previously served as Minister of Water, Forests, Sea, and Environment for Gabon, director of Gabon’s National Parks Agency, and Central Africa regional director of Wildlife Conservation Society. In these roles, he was instrumental in shaping Gabon’s environmental policies, leading to the creation of 53 new protected areas, including Gabon’s network of 13 national parks and 20 marine protected areas.

In his public service in Gabon, White successfully secured significant funding for conservation and forest management. He led the registration of 187 million tons of REDD+ results with the UNFCCC and structured a REDD+ results-based payment of up to $150 million with the Norwegian government under the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI). White participated in all UNFCCC COPs from 2008-2022 as a forests and lands negotiator on the Gabonese delegation. As a minister, he negotiated and spoke on behalf of Africa at COP26 in Glasgow, and served as chair of the African Group of Negotiators during Gabon’s tenure.

White has been a member of CTrees’ scientific advisory board since 2022. Reflecting on his new role on the board of directors, White said, “CTrees is undertaking urgent work to produce data at the resolution, frequency, and quality needed to help governments and organizations protect and restore forest ecosystems at scale. I am honored to be joining CTrees’ board and support the organization in its mission to bring best-in-class science to advance nature-based climate solutions.”

White’s academic achievements include a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Edinburgh and an honorary doctorate from the University of Stirling, awarded in 2010. In his research career, he has contributed to over 120 peer-reviewed publications, making significant advancements in the field of conservation science.

In 2010, White was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to conservation in Central Africa. He has also been honored as an Officier and a Chevalier in Gabon’s National Order of Merit, in 2022 and 2003, respectively.