It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Michael Francois Baumann last month, in Pattaya, Thailand.

Mike has been a key contributor and behind the scenes to both the initial South China Sea project (http://www.unepscs.org/) and now the SCS SAP Implementation Project (https://scssap.org/) and the Fisheries Refugia Project (https://fisheries-refugia.org/) providing his services in the design and development, hosting and maintenance, data security and network solutions, backups, and updating of the UNEPSCS, SCSSAP, and Fisheries-Refugia websites and associated databases. He has also worked in various UN organizations such as UNEP, UNDP and FAO, and regional organizations and projects such as SEAFDEC, COBSEA and SOPAC. He also is responsible for the development of GEF funded project web-sites such as the SOPAC/GEF Pacific IWRM Project and Pacific R2R Project websites and associated databases (http://www.pacific-iwrm.org and https://www.pacificr2r.org/).

“It is thanks to Mike’s deep commitment, the South China Sea has had one of the longest standing web-sites of any of the GEF International waters Portfolio, available for over 14 years since the projects completion” noted Virginie Hart, Senior Project Manager of the SCS SAP Project.

Mish Hamid, the GEF IW:LEARN Project Manager also commented “The GEF IW:LEARN project wishes to fully acknowledge with appreciation Mike's contribution to the success of the International Waters portfolio, with his contribution to many key web-sites and databases and most essentially, ensuring that the results of so many ground-breaking and crucial GEF IW projects were preserved to support replication and upscaling. Mike was truly a great unsung hero of GEF International Waters and we are deeply saddened to hear of his passing”.

We wish all our sincere condolences to Mike’s son Junior, his relatives and friends.

Rest in peace Mike!