Tom Lovejoy: A Letter to the Gentleman of Biodiversity

By Kike Calvo, Safina Center Senior Fellow

Tom Lovejoy at the Global Environment Facility of the International Institute for Sustainable Development’s 42nd Council Meeting. Photograph courtesy of IISD/Earth Negotiations Bulletin

I woke up on Christmas Day to the sad news of the passing of American conservation biologist Tom Lovejoy. Tom was not only a scholar but a gentleman. He had died at the age of 80 that day.

For years, he brought attention to tropical deforestation through his nonprofit Amazon Biodiversity Center. 

I had the honor of photographing him many times at events held at Yale University, but it was not until we sailed together in Patagonia with National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions that we became friends. 

He turned into a non-formal scientific mentor of mine, always helping me along the way. There was not a single time that he did not answer my emails in minutes.

I always looked up to him with the respect he deserved. What else would you profess to the person who coined the term “biological diversity,” a great expert in the field of conservation? But it was not his knowledge, but his generosity and kindness that sealed our friendship. Well aware of my lack of formal education in the sciences, he took me under his supportive wings, writing the foreword of my book Drones for Conservation or more recently, introducing me to the New York Botanical Garden Curator Emeritus, Brian Boom, to push forward The Adventures of Pili project.

A month ago was the last time we emailed each other: 

“How are you, Tom?” I asked.

“I guess I would rate myself at 70%,” he replied. “YouTube interview, ok. But let Carmen schedule it so I don’t run myself down.”

We were planning an interview for my YouTube series Reflections with an Accent. I wish I had moved quicker. 

National Geographic Explorer in Residence Enric Sala, recently described Tom as “a giant” in the world of Ecology and Conservation, mentioning him as a wonderful mentor, and a professor who was extremely generous with his students, colleagues, and friends. And I could not agree more. 

What I have not to doubt is that in this particular moment, there are hundreds of conservationists and nature lovers around the world who are deeply saddened by his passing. 

I expressed my gratitude to him on many occasions, but I will once again. Thank you for your kindness, Tom. You inspired many of us, and you certainly made this world a better place.