About BESE

Why

As we approach the 1.5°C global warming threshold, the consequences for nature and our dependence on it become increasingly severe. The global biodiversity crisis, even more critical than the climate crisis, is intensified by the interconnected nature of both challenges. Fortunately, solutions to these crises often overlap. To address the biodiversity and climate crises, there’s a growing emphasis on both small and large-scale nature restoration projects worldwide.

BESE comprises five committed marine ecologists who witnessed the repeated failures of nature restoration, resulting in significant loss of effort and resources. With time running out before surpassing the 1.5°C threshold, BESE is driven to develop unique nature restoration products, aiming to ensure the success of restoration efforts worldwide.

How

At BESE, we restore nature through our expertise and specialized products tailored for nature’s needs. These products are not only biodegradable and biobased but are also crafted from materials sourced from waste streams. Collaborating with local experts, we engage in consultations to determine the most effective nature-based ways to kickstart nature recovery and identify the most suitable products for each unique situation.

What

We employ our products in nature-based solutions to initiate the process of nature restoration. Once our biodegradable products have naturally broken down, the environment can continue to recover independently. It’s noteworthy that through nature restoration alone, we can contribute to achieving 37% of the climate change goals set to limit global warming to below 1.5°C.

The team

Wouter Lengkeek

Marine biologist - Director
Marine ecosystem restoration. As a field biologist and scientific diver Wouter has studied the world’s marine ecosystems for over 20 years. He now uses this long standing experience for the benefit of ecosystem restoration. He is one of the pioneers in the development of ecosystem restoration with BESE-elements.

Malenthe Teunis

Marine biologist - Operations manager
Aquatic ecology - Marine ecosystem restoration. Malenthe is one of the major drivers behind the BESE-products. She is active in the design of new products and out in the field, setting up new restoration projects with BESE-products.

Karin Didderen

Marine biologist - R&D manager
Ecosystem restoration. Fascinated with nature and active in the field of marine ecology. Searching for ecosystem restoration measures that work. Karin is one of the pioneers in the development of BESE-elements.

Peter Vodegel

Assistant nature restoration and product development
Marine ecology, coral reef restoration. After setting up a coral reef restoration project and conservation dive base in Kenya Peter is now assisting in BESE-projects and product development.

Laura van Dijk

Operations assistant
After years of secretarial experience in a corporate environment Laura chose to use her skills for a subject she is passionated about: nature en ecology. She assists the BESE-team with sales support, all kinds of practical matters and is responsible for online communication.

Advisory board

Eelco Waardenburg

Shareholder
Director – Visionary – Terrestrial ecosystem restoration. After studying tropical land use and a period of four years in Afrika, Eelco has set up multiple successful businesses since the year 2000. He took over Bureau Waardenburg, founded by his father, in the year 2014. Bureau Waardenburg has a wealth of experience in ecological research, advice and landscape design. BESE is a another step into active restoration.

Martien Meijer

Ecologist
Director. Coastal zone management hard substrates (especially dike slopes). As a field biologist, Martien has studied the communities of algal vegetation and marine fauna on hard substrates in intertidal zones in the Dutch delta for more than 35 years. Since 1995 he is member of the board of directors of Bureau Waardenburg. With this experience he is advisor for the other team members of BESE-products.