Georgina Mace (1953–2020)

Georgina Mace (1953–2020)

She illuminated the vast value of nature

Georgina Mace, a pioneer of biodiversity accounting who overhauled the Red List of threatened species, died on 19 September, aged 67. Mace was one of the sharpest minds of her generation, who bridged disciplines and excelled in building consensus, writes her colleague Nathalie Pettorelli. Nine days before she died, Mace published a Nature paper on habitat conversion and biodiversity loss. “She’d nominate you for a post even when you didn’t think she had noticed your work; she’d make a witty remark in the middle of a heated discussion,” writes Pettorelli. “Her death leaves a void.”

Nature | 5 min read
Read an expert analysis of Mace’s recent paper by integrative ecologists Brett Bryan and Carla Archibald: A recipe to reverse the loss of nature (Nature News & Views | 6 min read)