News 2 – Luc Hoffmann and Thymio Papayannis awarded the Ramsar 2012 Wetlands Conservation Prize

For the 5^th Wetlands Conservation Prize, the Standing Committee decided to award the work of two individuals dear to the Tour du Valat: Luc Hoffmann, one of the founders of the Ramsar Convention (and of the Tour du Valat), and Thymio Papayannis, the “father” of the MedWet Initiative, and a member of the Tour du Valat’s Advisory Board.

On 6 July 2012, the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention awarded the 5th Wetlands Conservation Prize. Luc Hoffmann, who is considered to be one of the pillars of the Ramsar Convention, received the “Honorary Prize for the 40th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention”. Meanwhile, Thymio Papayannis, founding father of the MedWet initiative, and a major advocate of wetlands, who has been involved in Ramsar Convention activities for 26 years, was awarded the “Prize for Achievements”.

These awards bear witness to the recognition given to these two major figures, to the work they have carried out, side by side, and how they have advocated the conservation and wise use of wetlands, and their inherent values.