Remembering Our Academy Colleagues

It is with profound sadness that the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law announces the passing of Professor Vladimir Garcia Magalhães on July 30, 2014.   Professor Magalhaes suffered severe injuries from a car accident in June and succumbed to the injuries a few weeks later.

Professor Magalhães was a law professor at the Catholic University of Santos (UNISANTOS) in Brazil. He was a lawyer, biologist and environmental law professor who taught and researched in subjects such as ecology and the environment, genetic engineering, environmental law and the sea, biotechnology, biodiversity, international environmental law and property rights.

Professor Magalhães worked and served on the boards of various organizations in Brazil, including the Company of Technology of Environmental Sanitation of the State of São Paulo (CETESB), the State Program for Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Biodiverisity (Probio/SP) of the Secretariat of Environment of the State of São Paulo, the Managing Council of the Sea APA of the Littoral Center of the State of São Paulo for Biennium 2013/2014, Surrounding the Transdisciplinaria Academy del (HEHITS UPON), the Institute of Green Planet and the Brazilian Institiute of Advocacia Publica (IBAP). He was one of the founding members of the Latin American Academy of Environmental Law (WINGED) and was President of the Association of the Professors of Environmental Law of Brazil (APRODAB).

Justice Antonio Benjamin of the National High Court of Brazil (STJ) stated that the passing of Vladimir was a major tragedy and a terrible loss to Brazilian Environmental Law. He also stated that we will all remember him for what he was: a great human being with a passion for Nature and Law.

A staunch supporter of the IUCN Academy, Professor Magalhães presented papers at many of the Academy’s previous colloquia and workshops. Earlier this year, Professor Magalhães was appointed to the Academy’s Research Committee. He was energetic and passionate about contributing to the work of this Committee and he had great ideas.   He will be greatly missed by many colleagues and friends in the environmental law community all over the world.