The Forest and Farm Facility team definitely feel that we have lost one of our own and will miss him deeply. 

Peter was one of FFF founders. He was present at the original launch of the FFF, representing the G3 rights holders group. He had a broader vision of togetherness embodied by indigenous, community and family smallholders – the G3. He was an FFF Steering Committee member since the beginning through his affiliation to family forestry providing thoughtful guidance. He and the IFFA were close partners in a large number of events and exchanges bringing together forest and farm producer organizations to share with each other.

He spoke at the highest level events including the World Forestry Congress, and our Committee on Forestry, the Conference on Deforestation and worked tirelessly with the United Nations Forum on Forests. It is hard to find photographs of major FFF events which don’t include Peter, quietly standing in the back row in the group or engaging one on one with farmers in the field. 

Peter was passionate about the work of the IFFA and believed deeply in the possibilities of stronger linkages between private forest owners, community forestry groups and indigenous peoples and saw a collective potential to raise the voice of “rights holders”.

As a thinker and philosopher he was a leading or co-author of a number of FFF working papers, declarations and other publications, always thinking about how to strengthen collective action and organizations.

As a forest farmer he always reminded us of the practical conditions and the real barriers confronting producers of wood, forest and farm products.

As a husband and father he always reminded us of his own family and of what is truly important to the people living with trees and forests and the land.

As a friend he was always ready to talk and share ideas.

As a birder he managed to find time, often early in the morning before events or trips to check on the local winged inhabitants.

We all enjoyed working with Peter and send our heartfelt sympathy to his family and all his colleagues and friends who valued his generosity of spirit as we did. His passion and compassion will remain in our hearts.