In memoriam: Dr Kathy MacKinnon
It is with enormous sadness that IUCN and the World Commission on Protected Areas announce the sudden passing of Kathy MacKinnon, a stalwart of protected areas and of conservation globally.
Kathy MacKinnon, Chair, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (2015-2021)
Julia Miranda Londoño, Trevor Sandwith, and Kathy MacKinnon at UNFCCC COP21 in Paris, 2015
There are many ways to describe Kathy - friend, mentor, committed conservationist, scientist, passionate advocate, dedicated organiser, funny and inspired, to name just a few. Our hearts reach out to her three sons and grandchildren, who we heard much about. Kathy called IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas her second family, where she made many deep friendships across the Union.
Kathy was an inspiration to the whole conservation community, within and beyond IUCN. Her dedication to the work of the Union on protected areas was unmatched. I am confident I speak on behalf of the Union when I say, the planet has lost one of its main defenders. You will be truly missed, Kathy.
Bruno Oberle, Director General, IUCN
Kathy worked tirelessly, championing protected areas and OECMs as being critically important for biodiversity conservation. Nature has lost one of its greatest allies; we have a responsibility to honour her important legacy by continuing her work the best we can.
Madhu Rao, Chair, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas
Kathy had a legendary career in conservation. She received her PhD in Zoology from Oxford University and spent ten years in Indonesia working on tropical ecology research and protected areas planning and management. She worked with many international and national conservation NGOs, as well as government agencies in developing countries. For 16 years, Kathy was the Lead Biodiversity Specialist with the World Bank where she found ways to include conservation outcomes in development investments. She is the author of over 100 scientific books and publications, including recent books that promote protected areas as proven and sustainable natural solutions, helping societies to cope with climate change. In 2007, she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award of the Society of Conservation Biology and in 2018, she was awarded the Midori Prize for Biodiversity.
Prominent in many international forums for protected areas, Kathy was on the International Steering Committee for the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014 held in Sydney, Australia, and a leading contributor to the development of the programme for that Congress, leading to the Promise of Sydney. Serving firstly as Deputy Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, she then served two terms as Chair until 2021. As an IUCN Councilor, she served on the Finance and Audit Committee, and most prominently in the Preparatory Committee for the IUCN Congress held in 2021 in Marseille. She was also a dedicated member of the World Protected Areas Leadership Forum.
She was a constant member of IUCN's many delegations to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Working Group implementing the Programme of Work on Protected Areas, the implementation of the far-reaching Target 11 on Protected Areas, and the negotiations towards the new 30x30 Target of the Global Biodiversity Framework. She became Chair of the Target 11 Partnership, working closely with the CBD to spur efforts to achieve all elements of the Target. During this time, she was also very active in the many WCPA Specialist Groups and Task Forces that have defined international nature conservation policy and practice. In particular, she championed the linkages between protected areas and climate change adaptation and mitigation, and led the process for defining "other effective area-based conservation measures".
In her words, “Protected areas of many kinds not only give sanctuary to the wonder of 4.5 billion years of evolution but, in holding species and ecosystems, they protect the fundamental underpinning of human livelihoods, economies and wellbeing. They are a key tool in maintaining the sustainability of life on Earth and in combatting the ravages of climate change,”
As Chair, she was particularly dedicated to ensuring the WCPA produced high-quality guidance on many topics related to the governance and management of protected areas. She contributed to the development of the IUCN Green List Standard, and served as the Chair of the Green List Committee that placed the first sites on the IUCN Green List.
Many will remember Kathy's dedication and consistent involvement in many aspects of IUCN's conservation work. For example she co-chaired the International Steering Committees for the Second Asia Parks Congress, and the Inaugural IUCN African Protected Areas Congress, examining and ensuring that every detail was addressed in the planning and organisation of these Congresses. Fearless and objective, she also served on the Independent Panel of Experts that reviewed and assessed allegations of human rights abuses in and around protected areas.
Today we remember her courage, dedication, friendship and leadership in helping define contemporary approaches and challenges for protected and conserved areas worldwide, and the way in which she inspired so many.
Please feel free to reflect on your own experience and memory of Kathy in the comments section below and we will make this available to her family and friends, who will be pleased to know how Kathy touched their lives and work.
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Condolences
It is with sad feeling I heard the news of Kathy's passing, I have known her for some time and admired her dedication and resolve. Kathy was a friend for all and a welcoming spirit. Bless her sole and may she rest in peace.
In Memory of Kathy
So sudden, so unexpected. Not only have I known Kathy for the most part of my life (since the age of 6 growing up in Indonesia), Kathy was a constant inspiration throughout my career, we bumped into each other here and there across the world at CBD COPs or IUCN WCPA meetings. Always fun to catch up and hear her stories. Her dedication to nature conservation, passion for travelling, and motivation of so many people made her a true hero to me. I will miss you Kathy.
Kathy's legacy
I was deeply shocked to learn that we have lost Kathy, a tireless champion for protected areas and biodiversity. She was relentless in speaking out for their importance - not only for their intrinsic importance, but for the sake of all those who depend on them. This she did with focus and determination, as well as good humour. The conservation world owes her a great debt. Sincere condolences to Kathy's family and the many folks who worked with her.
Thank you Kathy for being…
Thank you Kathy for being who you are and defending nature for all of us
Condolences
It's clear from the tributes to her that have come in from all over the world that, for 30 years, Kathy was one of the cornerstones of the international conservation community. She will be sorely missed. I will remember her in particular for her characteristic sense of humour, which was never far from the surface and made her such fun to be around. Sincere condolences to James and the rest of the family.
From the global forest to the local pond
I remember how much Kathy cared for and championed global as well as local efforts to maintain biodiversity.
My sincere condolences to her family and friends.
Losing Kathy
Kathy was my one and only female mentor when I arrived as a young biologist in Indonesia. I couldn't have had a better one. She lead the way in a sea of men with dignity, passion and intelligence, convincing me I could do the same. We shared a love of Sulawesi (and it's black macaques) and a drive to see large chunks of the world's biodiversity protected. I learned so much from her over the years. I loved her to pieces.
We will miss a brilliant person
I am so sorry to hear about Kathy's far too early departure from this planet - a planet which she definitely left behind a bit more beautiful than how she found it. She was one of those persons you were always happy to see at a conference - passionate, brilliant and with a great sense of humor. We will dearly miss her, but she leaves behind an impressive legacy. My thoughts are with her family, I wish them strength in these sad times.
My sincere condolences
My sincere condolences
Condolencias
Tuve el privilegio de conocer a Kathy y trabajar un par de ocasiones con ella. Su libro sobre manejo de áreas protegidas en el Trópico fue una gran guía para mi trabajo durante muchos años. Kathy fue una destacada conservacionista que siempre mantuvo un gran sentido del humor. Te vamos a extrañar Kathy. Buen viaje.
Conservation leader, mentor and friend
As a biodiversity champion at the WB & in the Global Environment Facility family for decades, many benefited from Kathy's leadership & mentorship. She was kind & adventurous, too! We got lost in the fog on Table Mountain once on a hike & made it back in one piece & celebrated with high tea & laughter=typical Kathy! She gave my wife & I the sweetest engagement party in her small apartment in DC=typical Kathy! A kind & generous soul, she will be missed. My deepest condolences to her family.
Manejo de Áreas Naturales Protegidas en los Trópicos
I had the honor of coordinating and translating parts of the Spanish version of her Managing Protected Areas in the Tropics book. Just a snippet of her legacy to the conservation community that has inspired myriads of Spanish speaking practitioners around the globe. Rest in peace our beloved Kathy.
Kathy: promoting public appreciation of nature
I got to know Kathy when she supported producing local language field guides through World Bank grant in early 2000. With her and other colleagues' support, we successfully produced Birds of Nepal and Wild Mammals of Nepal field guides in Nepali language promoting public appreciation of nature and building a broader base for nature conservation in Nepal (and in the greater region!). She supported many grassroots small organisations, a rare human quality in today's world. My deepest condolences.
a role model for women in conservation
It's such a shock and sadness to hear of Kathy's sudden departure. Such a huge loss to the conservation community. She has given so much for this planet and has been a role model for many women working in conservation. Her leadership has been outstanding. She held so many high-level important roles, especially at IUCN, yet she was always so warm, approachable and kind to people below her rank. I will always remember her smiles and inspiring conversations at all these CBD meetings. RIP Kathy!
Condolences
Heartfelt Condolences! RiP
Rest in Peace Kathy
Kathy’s passion and commitment to conservation was central to the crucial contribution of the Independent Panel of Experts to the WWF Independent Review. It was a rewarding pleasure to work with her. Rest in peace Kathy.
l'on se souviendra de toi lorsqu'on parlera de la conservation
Je suis triste et je partage la douleur avec la communauté conservatrice de la CMAP. Je n'ai pas connu personnellement Kathy, mais en tant que jeune défenseur de la nature, j'imagine les épreuves qu'elle a traversées en tant que défenseur de la nature et surtout la pression du travail lors de son mandat à l'UICN. Mes condoléances les plus attristés à la famille et les proches. Pour nous conservateur, l'on se souviendra de toi lorsqu'on parlera de la conservation. Paix éternelle!!!
Profound sadness and appreciation
It's hard to process that Kathy has left us, having just spent an hour with her last Thursday, discussing work we were planning to do together. Kathy was not only a fierce advocate for protected areas and biodiversity conservation, she was also the warm, engaging and caring hub of a global conservation family. That was her magic. Kathy, you leave an enormous hole in our hearts and in our fight to save the planet, but we will do our best to carry your legacy forward.
Honoring the achievements of Kathy
Kathy became a good friend when I was a regular visitor to her house in Bogor in the 1980s. Since then, I have respected and benefitted from her knowledge and enthusiasm whilst she was at the World Bank and later at IUCN. Kathy made a real impact on the world of conservation throughout her long career, and it is tragic that we have lost such a true friend and powerful force for nature.
Condoleances
It took me some time to meet Kathy, everyone seemed to know her, respect her and admire her. And then we met, and it was all true. Dedication to the objectives of conservation, inspiration for all that want to achieve this. With a good sense of humour to overcome difficulties. Tools that we learned from Kathy, that I need and use every time. Thank you Kathy.
Kathy
So shocked & sad to hear of Kathy's death. She was a wonderful conservationist and kind friend. I remain truly grateful for her support to BGCI as a Board Member.
Gratitude for a conservation giant, mentor and friend
I was deeply saddened to learn of Kathy's passing. We first met in 1986, and our paths continued to cross over the years, most recently in connection with the 2nd Asia Parks Congress (APC) in 2022. Kathy served as the Co-chair of the International Steering Committee and provided invaluable technical guidance and moral support; her commitment was central to the APC's success, including the vibrant Youth Forum.
Conservation has lost a great champion. My heart goes out to the entire family.
Sincere condolences
I would like to express my sincere condolences to WCPA, IUCN community, Kathy's colleagues, and to her family. It is an unexpected loss for the conservation community. Her role in the development of WCPA activities is enormous. May her soul rest in peace!
Karhy te honramos y agradecemos
Con muchísimo pesar y desde el sentir de cada cultura y país diverso de nuestra región, pero especialmente de la red de voluntades que conforma la Celebración de las Áreas Protegidas y Conservadas LAC, deseamos que tu espíritu luchador y luminoso se eleve y sienta nuestro respeto y afecto sincero.
Gracias Kathy MacKinnon por tu apoyo y especial consideración durante el III CAPKAC y tú genuino apoyo en esta iniciativa de LATINOMAERICA Y EL CARIBE que suoiste valorar y fortalecer.
My deepest condolences
The world has lost an unwavering force that defended protected areas and OECMs tirelessly for years. I have always admired Kathy's commitment and wisdom to view conservation so holistically. She will be missed.
My Sincere Condolences
Thank you Kathy for your extraordinary conservation contributions.
Condolences
Goodbye Ibu Kathy, rest in peace after a life of battling for what you believed in.
Sincere Condolences
So shocked and sad to learn this news. It was a great honor to become a member of WCPA during Kathy's tenure as President. Kathy had set a very good example for young conservationists. May her soul rest in peace.
Mourning and Celebrating Kathy
What sad news - our prayers and thoughts are with the family. While mourn we must, we should also celebrate a life well and fully filled - one that has impacted many. I have known and respected Kathy for many years - early on when she and Agi Kiss made such a powerful World Bank team in Uganda and Kenya - in the early days of community conservation, and this helped spawn and strengthen the movement that is now a more accepted norm. Thank you Kathy!
Condolences
My condolences to all the WCPA team committed to the conservation of nature in the world and especially to his beautiful family.
Courage to you !
Katty was an inspiration
A really sad news to all of us at the Biodiversity Preservation Center (BPC) Nigeria because Kathy was a great inspiration to many of our members. On numerous occasions, I used her publications to teach my students and always loved to tell her story as a means of motivating our female students to love biodiversity conservation. May gentle soul rest in peace and may God grant her family and loved ones the fortitude to bear her passing to greater glory.
The PNG project
I recall Kathy MacKinnon's leadership
(as Senior Biodiversity Specialist for The World Bank), as our consortium of Australian and PNG scientists embarked (25 years ago) on a whole country biodiversity planning project for Papua New Guinea. She guided the integration of PNG indigenous areas ("Wildlife Management Areas") into biodiversity inclusive planning for PNG.
This stands as a model for effective integration of indigenous plural values of nature with global values of biodiversity.
Remembering Kathy
The breadth of Kathy's conservation work and the breadth of the friendships she made in doing that work is astonishing. All this was done in a completely unassuming manner. When she won the Midori prize for Biodiversity Conservation, she donated the substantial financial award to conservation projects in the WCPA. She was equally at home with a king or a peasant farmer. Thank you Kathy.
Kathy's Leadership
Kathy was an advocate for Nature, a leader to look up to, and a special conservation colleague and friend to many at Parks Canada. We are all shocked and saddened by the news of Kathy's passing. Our deepest sympathies to Kathy's family, friends and the conservation community.
Tribute
The passing of Kathy MacKinnon is very sad news. Kathy started at the World Bank at the same time I started at IUCN in 1993. And what a star she was in the World Bank back in the 1990s and the 2000s. Kathy was always supportive of WCPA long before she became Chair and was always looking for ways to support more effective biodiversity conservation around the world. What a wonderful person, what a committed conservationist, and what a legacy of results for a better planet.
Tribute to Kathy
It is such a big loss to the family and the entire fraternity of conservationists. To us here in Tanzania, the role played by Kathy remains iconic in protecting nature and improving livelihoods of millions of individuals. We stand with her family and all others in the world of nature conservation during this difficult moment to all of us.
A Deep Loss for the Conservation Community
Kathy MacKinnon's passing is a great shock. A tremendous
loss not only for her family, but for the conservation community. Over the past years we all knew we could rely on Kathy's immense biodiversity knowledge, her deep commitment to the protection of nature, and leadership for forging new ways of thinking and doing. Kathy would always work to break down silos and strengthen cross discipline partnerships. She set foundation for our work in the 21st century. Forever grateful - thanks Kathy!
In memory of Kathy
Shocking news...
We will always remember Kathy as an extremely knowledgeable, dedicated and passionate professional. She was always a very friendly, inspiring and approachable person.
We will miss her.
The one and only Kathy
I last saw Kathy fizzing with energy at COP15 in Montreal last December, talking with equal passion about the Global Biodiversity Framework and her wonderful sons and grandchildren. It's so hard to believe she has left us. We first met in South Africa in the 1990s to work on the role of protected areas in advancing transboundary peace and conservation - a friendship and inspiration that lasted decades. What a woman and what a global leader for nature! Deepest sympathy to her family.
Lost but not forgotten
Kathy worked in the team that formulated one of the very early GEF projects way back in 1993 for PNG . We also worked in Lao PDR when Kathy was the Biodiversity Specialized with the WB as welt as numerous at meetings WCPA work and we had regular contact over many years, We regard her as a true friend. Kathy will be missed in all fields of conservation and we share the loss with her family and millions of friends.
Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui – Be strong, be brave, be steadfast.
Lost for words
Such a loss! Kathy was an inspiration to many of us at IUCN - and I'm sure well beyond the Union. Tough but kind, she spoke her mind when it got to defending what she cared about - nature. Women like her truly inspire other women in the conservation world and are an example of courage and hard work. I'll also miss her now traditional end of the year animated e-card - that always put a smile on my face. Kathy you'll be sorely missed. My condolences to your family and close ones.
APACs Tribute to Kathy Mackinnon
It was great to have the sage experience, guidance, and quiet wit of Dr Kathy MacKinnon as chair and guide of the APAC International Steering committee. She managed to balance many diverse viewpoints that made APAC the great success it was. Dr Kathy MacKinnon leaves behind a legacy for subsequent APAC to build on. Our hearts go out to her family, all her friends at their time of loss. Farewell Kathy. We will continue to celebrate you through the fond memories of APAC!
The passing of Dr Kathy MacKinnon
The outpouring of friendship, admiration and love that so many people have expressed for Kathy in the IUCN on-line memoriam (and no doubt elsewhere) is a strong testament to just how very special she was and how very much she will be missed. May she rest in peace.
In memoriam: Dr Kathy MacKinnon
Dear Kathy,
Your spirit and personality, your knowledge and testimony in nature conservation will stay with us, for ever. Pax vobiscum Kathy!
Vilmos KISZEL
Dear Kathy, we were both…
Dear Kathy,
we were both member of the supervisory board of Wetlands International. You have been a great example for me: strong on the content and soft in relations, always kind and respectful and at the same with a clear ambition in nature conservation. We will miss you, dear Kathy
Fond memories
We were close colleagues and friends through all her invaluable years at the World Bank. I fondly remember constructing and populating her garden pond and removing weeds from her living room windows with Kathy ably assisting in her nightie! What a great person and fun character!
Miss you, Kathy
In 2005, at the World Congress of Parks, our professional paths crossed with Kathy and since then we went going the same way. I admired her professionalism and kindness, willingness to help with advice and business. I will miss your annual colorful and cheerful Christmas card and kind words. I miss you, Kathy.
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