[Pollinator] A Tribute to E.O. Wilson

[Kelly Rourke]

*The Passing of E.O. Wilson*

We are sad to report today that E.O. Wilson has died.  Dr. Wilson was a
huge influence in the support for biodiversity – both in the cataloging of
its rich diversity but also in its preservation.  Many obituaries are
hailing him as the successor to Darwin. Here is a link to the Washington
Post obituary.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/2021/12/27/013b4bd2-6700-11ec-a76b-374aeb82e811_story.html.
Below is reminiscence by Laurie Davies Adams, our Director of Programs.  We
at Pollinator Partnership continue to be inspired by Dr. Wilson and are
proud to have been a partner with him in our work for pollinators, people,
and the planet.

Kelly Rourke

Executive Director

Pollinator Partnership



*Remembering E.O. Wilson*

Ed Wilson was a member of the Pollinator Partnership Science Advisory Board
and was instrumental in the very first North American Pollinator Protection
Campaign (NAPPC) meeting over two decades ago.  The invitations to that
first meeting hosted by the National Academy of Science were sent under Dr.
Wilson’s name.  He was endlessly supportive of the NAPPC effort and of
Pollinator Partnership.  Below is a photo of Dr. Wilson pointing to the
first NAPPC poster, a tradition that started with the U.S. Botanic Garden
and has continued through the US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife
Service, and as a Pollinator Partnership effort to this day
[image: image.png]

Ed was generous with his time and ideas, and we at Pollinator Partnership
greatly benefited from his perspectives.  He graciously agreed to attend a
Pollinator Week event in Washington, D.C., and also appeared in Boston at a
fund-raiser for Pollinator Partnership.  Tirelessly and without complaint
he was willing to spend a long day as I took him from interviews to
speeches and finally to a quiet dinner.  When we arrived at National Public
Radio’s Scott Simon’s program in Washington, he was greeted in the manner
of a rock star – which indeed he was – the “rock” in this case being our
planet.

Always genial and with a twinkle in his eye, he was nonetheless deadly
serious about the need to include biodiversity and sustainable practices in
all of our land management.  His advice and counsel will be missed.  The
last time I saw him, at a Half-Earth Conference in Berkeley sponsored by
the Burt’s Bees Foundation, he signed my copy of his latest book – “To
Laurie, my co-worker.”  It was touching to me, but I am certain he wrote
that inscription in many books as he considered each of us, all humankind,
to be co-workers in promoting and maintaining our planet for the well-being
and survival of all species.  It was a privilege to have known him and to
have learned so much from him.  We are all a great deal richer for his
wonderful life.

Laurie Davies Adams

Director of Programs

Pollinator Partnership

-- 

Kelly Rourke

Executive Director

Pollinator Partnership

600 Montgomery St. Ste 440

San Francisco, CA 94111

e:  kr at pollinator.org

w:  www.pollinator.org

o:  415-362-1137

c: 585-255-0962

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