Luc Hoffmann and Thymio Papayannis met in the 1980’s as members of the EC Expert Group on Mediterranean-type Wetlands. Since then, they have worked jointly in establishing and strengthening various ventures, in a spirit of creative friendship. These include mainly SPP (the Society for the Protection of Prespa), WWF Greece, EKBY (the Greek Biotope – Wetland Centre), MedWet (the Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative) and MedINA (the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos).
Both have been elected Honorary Members of the Mediterranean Wetlands Committee and have received Ramsar Awards in 2012.
In 1991, Dr Hoffmann invited Thymio Papayannis to join the Board of Tour du Valat, the well-known research institute for the conservation of Mediterranean wetlands. In June 2016, 25 years later, his tenure was completed due to rotation, while he was designated by the Board as Honorary Member, continuing thus his contribution to the Tour du Valat Institute and to wetlands in the region.
