We are deeply saddened by the loss of Tansu Gürpınar, one of the founders of the environmental movement, who was one of the first to come to mind when it comes to nature conservation in our country.

Born in Van in 1939, Tansu Gürpınar, a life scientist and geoscientist, started working at the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks of the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs in 1966 and carried out pioneering work for nature conservation in various state institutions and non-governmental organisations.

Gürpınar has been one of the most important people in the establishment of non-governmental organisations and the training of nature conservationists in our country. He has carried out many studies for the restoration of healthy populations of many species under the threat of extinction. For 65 years, he has carried out important projects for the conservation of wild animal species such as Anatolian wild sheep, mountain goat, fallow deer and roe deer. As a result of his observation that the number of birds of prey was gradually decreasing in Türkiye, he pioneered important efforts in 1970 to put these species under legal protection. Gürpınar, who is also a doyen of nature photography, has authored many publications and exhibitions on nature conservation.

As one of the founders of our Foundation, Tansu Gürpınar will always be with us and will take place in our memories as someone who guides us.