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Gonzalo Halffter Salas, driving force behind biosphere reserves in Mexico, passed away

Gonzalo Halffter

Biologist Gonzalo Halffter Salas was a renowned academic in Mexico and the world for his hard work in the field of ecology, biodiversity and conservation. He was the founder of the Institutes of Ecology in Mexico City and Xalapa (Inecol) and the trainer of several generations of environmentalists.

In 1991, he received the first edition of the UNESCO "Sultan Qaboos" award for environmental conservation, in recognition of his work with Inecol. Thanks to his work, in 2000 he received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Alicante, Spain, and in 2002 the Universidad Veracruzana awarded him a Gold Medal of Merit for his contribution to the resolution of environmental problems.

Gonzalo was president of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) International Coordinating Council and a great promoter of the biosphere reserve concept in Mexico. His dedication has transcended the borders of Mexico, leaving a legacy in the biosphere reserves of Latin America and throughout the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

It is with great sadness that the UNESCO MAB community pays farewell to an exemplary colleague. We pay tribute to Gonzalo's vocation and express our sincere condolences to his loved ones.