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John Celecia served the for many years as one of the Programme's senior specialists, and one of the longest serving members of the Secretariat. He was one of the pillars of urban ecology and the initiator a MAB programme in this field. His areas of interest and expertise were very broad, but he focused on urban and environmental issues in Latin America and supported the development of biosphere reserves in that region. He was keen to link the factors and processes on which biodiversity depends and their interactions with development issues.

For John Celecia, it was impossible to formulate sustainable development strategies without a good understanding of the multiple implications of biological diversity. Moreover, his humanistic vision of these issues, which are more relevant than ever, implied that the idea of "sustainability" must be associated with that of equity and go hand in hand with that of human well-being. He was deeply convinced that biosphere reserves were models for sustainable development in practice and that the World Network of Biosphere Reserves should play a more prominent role on the international scene. He was always available to share his experience and ideas. He was the author of many articles and reference books, particularly on urban ecology.

He was a jovial, enthusiastic man, open to all forms of knowledge and culture, with great sensitivity and poetry, a deeply original and non-conformist spirit. He was known for his passion, his generosity, his eloquence, and his commitment. The MAB Programme owes him a lot and the MAB Secretariat misses him dearly.

We send our sincere condolences to his wife, family and loved ones on behalf of the entire MAB family who appreciated and respected him. We thank him for the profound, committed and visionary work that he passed on to us and that we will continue in his memory.