Bonn, 30 March 2021 – It is with great sadness, that we have learned, that Zoltán Czirák, National Focal Point for AEWA in Hungary and a member of the AEWA Standing Committee, passed away tragically and quickly on 23 March 2020 following COVID-19 complications.

Zoltán Czirák was a passionate conservationist, who dedicated his whole life to species conservation. Up until recently, he worked as a biodiversity expert and advisor and was the head of the Unit of Nature Conservation Agreements in the Biodiversity and Gene Conservation Department of the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture. He was also a well-known and respected figure in the international conservation arena.

Since 1996, his work portfolio included a number of international wildlife conventions, including CITES, CMS, AEWA, the Bern Convention, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and also the CBD. He was the focal point for Hungary for the majority of these conventions and represented Hungary in international negotiations and decision-making processes.

He will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace.