IUCN mourns the loss of environmental champion Luc Hoffmann

“We have lost a hero and pioneer,” says IUCN Director General Inger Andersen. “Dr Hoffmann was an extraordinary man whose dedication to nature conservation was an inspiration to many, both within and beyond the conservation community. He is in great part responsible for shaping the conservation movement as it exists today.”

A keen ornithologist and zoologist, Dr Hoffmann authored over 60 publications on birds, wetlands and conservation. He was instrumental in the creation of WWF and the Ramsar Convention. In 1994 he established the MAVA foundation for the protection of nature which has been a dedicated supporter of IUCN and its work.

Throughout his life, Dr Hoffmann received numerous international accolades and awards, including the French Legion of Honour and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation award for biodiversity conservation. To honour his pioneering role in nature conservation, IUCN’s Commission on Ecosystem Management created the Luc Hoffmann Award, which recognises individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to conserving ecosystems. Similarly, WWF and the MAVA foundation established the Luc Hoffmann Institute in 2012.

Through his passion and commitment to saving the natural world, Dr Hoffmann has had a pivotal role in raising awareness about conservation as the key to a sustainable future. His visionary leadership and contribution to the conservation movement will continue to influence and inspire future generations.