Thymio Papayannis

MedWet/Com Honorary Member

thymio prespaArchitect and planner, after graduating from MIT and the Athens Polytechnic University.

He established in 1958 the consulting firm “Thymio Papayannis and Associates Inc. – Spatial planning and design”, which has been responsible for the planning and design of major projects in Greece and abroad.

He has been one of the founders of WWF Greece (and its president from 1996 to 2004 and its honorary president since), the Society for the Protection of Prespa (and has succeeded Luc Hoffmann as its president in 2004) and has contributed to the establishment of the Greek Biotope – Wetland Centre. He is also a member and secretary of the Board of the Tour du Valat Foundation in the Camargue.

In 1991 he helped launch the Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative (MedWet) under the aegis of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, 1971) and was its coordinator until July 2001, and after that its senior advisor.

In 2001 to 2006 he was a special advisor to the Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, mainly responsible for the introduction of cultural aspects of wetlands in the global work of the Convention and has been involved in the coordination of activities related to culture and wetlands in Ramsar since.

In 2003 he has founded the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (Med-INA), which he directs.

Thymio has written numerous articles and books on architecture and planning, nature conservation and the environment, as well as culture and sustainability.

In 2008 WWF International designated him as Member of Honour, while in 2012 he was given the Ramsar Award in Recognition of Achievement. In 2009 the Agricultural University of Athens awarded him with an Honorary Doctorate for his conservation work.

Contact thymiop@hol.gr, Tel: +30 210 36 11 001