In Memoriam: Ron Van Oers

It is with sadness that we acknowledge the recent death of friend and colleague Ron Van Oers. Trained as an urban planner, Ron applied this background to his long-standing commitment to the preservation of cultural heritage. He was one of the key proponents and developers of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape and published regularly to disseminate ideas on integrative approaches to urban conservation. Throughout his career, Ron was engaged in international dialogues regarding world heritage, from his time as Chief of Unit at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Paris, to his leadership role in guiding the World Heritage Cities Programme, and most recently his Vice-Directorship of the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region (WHITR-AP). We will miss Ron and his active contributions to the field and extend our sincere condolences to his friends and family and all those who will miss him as well.