In Memoriam: Professor Peter Anthony  FURLEY                                                             5 August 1935 - 31 January 2020

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”     Nelson Mandela

Professor Emeritus and an Honorary Fellow, Peter Furley had a distinguished career as a tropical biogeographer in the Department of Geography at the University of Edinburgh. He gained an outstanding international reputation in the field of tropical biogeography and pedology, particularly for understanding the dynamics of savanna and tropical forest systems. He was awarded the President’s Medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and chaired the British Biogeography Study Group for several years. 

Peter worked to promote the public understanding of science. He was deeply involved in the design of the ‘Tropical Rainforest’ exhibit for the popular visitor attraction ‘Our Dynamic Earth’ in Edinburgh, and with the Natural History Museum in London, which opened a field station in Belize in 1993.  Latterly, Peter turned his attention to conflicts between conservation and development and the need for practical action to conserve forests. With his friend John Burton from the World Land Trust and the ‘Adopt an Acre’ programme, he was passionate about encouraging everyone to collectively purchase parcels of forest land to ensure their future conservation. 

In celebration of his life, Peter's family will work with the World Land Trust to purchase more parcels of land and continue his legacy of work, helping to protect and sustainably manage natural ecosystems of the world. We aim to conserve their biodiversity, threatened habitats and endangered species.

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