In Memoriam: Jim Thorsell (1940-2023)

Jim had the courage to stand up to the aggressive, and often personal, lobbying done by governments intent on getting their nominated sites inscribed, or on downplaying the threats to established WH sites. He stood his ground and argued on the principles of the case. It must have been quite lonely at times but his obstinate determination to tell the truth meant that he was always listened to. He was right: IUCN has to “speak truth unto power” if its judgments are to respected.

I'm very sorry to hear the news of Jim's passing. He was a giant in the world of World Heritage when I first started attending meetings on behalf of ICCROM. I remember the good-natured teasing between Jim and Henry Cleere of ICOMOS about whether cultural or natural heritage was more important to the Convention. Jim would often laugh at a picutre of an archaeological site and call it "a pile of rocks". In the end, they were both right. RIP Jim.

Jim will be missed all around, but specially in the places that encompass the very best of nature.

Jim and I joined IUCN staff in Gland in the same month in 1883. For the 40 years since then we have skied, hiked, played tennis and traveled all over the world. We have enjoyed visits to Jim in Invermere each year since we moved to Canada, and he has been here to lecture our students. Jim involved me in many World Heritage evaluations for nominated forest sites. Jim was a great friend and colleague and will be greatly missed. Vale Jim.

Jim will undoubtedly be missed and always remembered, we had lengthy discussions and his advice, particularly in the mostly Northamerican topics we commented was always accurate. I learned a lot from him. His sense of humour I also appreciated. A great human being indeed. Hugs to family and friends.

Few people have had such an impact on the World Heritage Convention. For many years, Jim was the main evaluator of nominations of natural heritage sites . He beielved that the list should include only the most significant sites with the best integrity and played an important role in the development of monitoring mechanism of inscribed sites, to ensure States Parties follow through on their commitment to protect them.

Jim was a great influence in my own work evaluating natural world heritage proposals for IUCN, especially to ensure integrity & strength in protection. I learned from him as he evaluated Glacier-Waterton Lakes National Parks in 1995 how to ask probing questions to get into the strength of the proposals. What a wonderful man, with a keen understanding of management/operations from his own Parks Canada experience. I thought often, how would he look at this proposal? He has left a wonderful legacy!

Over many years, Jim calmly delivered evaluations of World Heritage nominations to the joy or despair of States Parties. I observed this consistent professional approach to the task from 1987 until he stepped down from that role. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the world's natural ecosystems will be missed. You can hear his reflections looking back on his career in 2010 at https://whc.unesco.org/en/oralarchives/james-thorsell

I remember Jim as one of the tall figures at IUCN headquarters. Soft spoken, immensely knowledgeable, with deep convictions on nature protection that he defended on the international scene with a rare intelligence and a real courage against forceful lobbies. I also remember his unique sense of humour (for ex. replacing on his desk the photo of his girlfriend with that of his horse in his beloved Canadian Rockies, so as to signify the turn of a sentimental chapter in his life). We will miss him.

I was a close friend and colleague of Jim’s since 1985, so am certainly missing him a lot, however, we can all look back and see Jim’s amazing legacy for nature around the world. Jim was a champion of natural World Heritage (WH) who always stood up for the integrity and quality of WH sites, taking heat on many occasions in WH Committee meetings when he refused to compromise even when the going got tough. And such a great guy with a wicked sense of humor, with a soft heart for others in need.

Jim was passionate about our planet’s wild places, particularly through leading IUCN’s work on natural World Heritage (WH) under the UNESCO WH Convention from 1983 to 1998. He set the benchmark for quality for natural WH sites. This put him in the hot seat when IUCN recommendations went against national interests but he always stood firm. Jim was happiest in the field talking to park managers. He had a wicked wit, always ready to joke and drink with friends. His legacy for nature will live on.

Jim was an unforgettable person – a unique combination of love for nature and wilderness, unimpeachable integrity, disrespect for pompous authority, and hilarious sense of humour which made him so respected, especially in IUCN and of course with the World Heritage Convention. It was a privilege to work with him. I did just one WH Evaluation for Jim - on Emei-san - quite an experience. Rest in Peace, Jim, and thanks so much.

Simply put Jim was simply on of the the very best partitioners who constantly was able to bridge the divide between policy and natural and cultural conservation values. Sharing a beer and yarn with Jim was inspirational as well as good fun. We will miss this special person.

We will never forget Jim with his incredible knowledge on natural World Heritage and his hidden appreciation of certain features of the cultural world, including sacred places. The years, when Jim (for IUCN) and me (for UNESCO) were running natural World Heritage, were based on trust and understanding of OUV - and what was at stake! My article in 'Montology Palimpsest' is dedicated to him and his friend Larry! Rest in Peace!

Jim was a great teacher and I benefitted from his advice and guidance both within CNPPA and in my projects. I might have quit this conservation work if his passion for parks, reserves and natural heritage I would not still be contributing to this life long career of nature conservation. Long live your legacy Jim.

Jim, I did not know you personally, however you were for me a great conservation character that drove my work in the national parks in the Orinoco River Basin. Thank you Jim.

With great sadness, I mourn the loss of Dr. James “Jim” Thorsell

Jim combined incredible expertise of the natural world with vast first hand knowledge of the worlds most wonderful places. Working tirelessly and courageously to ensure their survival as World Heritage Sites, he leaves a superb legacy.

I met Jim at the IUCN General Assembly held in Perth, Australia, when I was involved in the campaign to let the Government of Japan to ratify the World Heritage Convention in 1989. He welcomed us to join the IUCN thematic session on the World Heritage and give me a chance to give a presenation on potential natural heritages in Japan. Since then, I learnt a lot about the World Heritage Convention from Jim. Thank you Jim for your contribution to the World Heritage Convention.

My condolences to Jim’s family and closest friends. I knew Jim through the IUCN WCPA community and often referred to him as just Thorsell! - a reference to the fact that he had the best job in conservation going around the world and assessing World Heritage sites and national parks. He had great stories of his adventures and many of us lived vicariously. I’m glad to have been a beneficiary of his tales.

Jim's World Heritage work will always be remembered, and rightly so, as will be his stature as a world-class evaluator of natural areas. Here, I just want to call out fond memories of watching him interact with another giant of conservation, Larry Hamilton. Their friendship was inspiring to many of us. As I recall, Larry's nickname for Jim was "Muddy Boots."

Jim and I (at the time working within the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme and biosphere reserves) undertook a couple of joint missions, most of which were related to mountain ecosystems. Jim had a great personality with a lot of humour. And his passion was the conservation of nature. I will miss him.

I collaborated regularly with Jim on WH issues during his time at IUCN. After an overflight to the Caribbean borderlands of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, Jim and I came up with what Jim T called a "three-beer idea on the back of a napkin" regarding expanding the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor initiative I was working on for WCS, to a bold linked hemispheric approach--now widely embraced, through multinational trail and corridor initiatives. Jim was truly a pioneer in "big idea" conservation.

Jim was an extraordinary leader and a relentless and incredibly effective champion for World Heritage around the world. It was an honor and a pleasure to serve on the World Heritage panel with him - his knowledge was profound and his sense of humor was wonderful. A huge loss... I'm glad we were able to remember him at the Green Machine at the World Heritage Committee meeting in Riyadh.

I remember Jim as being a caring man, an aspect of his personality that I doubt many people saw. After leaving IUCN, he didn’t forget former colleagues, remaining concerned about the health of those who’d fallen sick, even ‘chivvying’ me for their news, so when my husband died, I knew he’d be caring towards me too. And how! He and a fellow Canadian colleague invited me and another IUCN widow to his homes in Banff and Wilmer before continuing to Edmonton. I was overwhelmed by this kindness.

I first met Jim in Geneva in the early 1980s around the time of the 3rd World Parks Congress. He had a wealth of knowldege and knew where he wanted to take IUCN's Protected Areas Programme and how to make that happen. I appreciated that he kept in contact with me upon moving back to Canada. I know he will be missed by the conservation community globally as one of the giants on whose shoulders we stand.