Malta’s scientific and environmental communities are mourning the loss of Edwin Lanfranco, a respected botanist whose lifelong work in the study and preservation of the Maltese Islands’ natural environment leaves behind an indelible legacy.

Mr Lanfranco, described by many as humble, brilliant, and endlessly generous with his knowledge, was considered Malta’s foremost expert on local flora. Over several decades, he studied and catalogued countless plant species, championed environmental education, and contributed to key national conservation efforts.

“Edwin was synonymous with all things botanical,” wrote BirdLife Malta in a heartfelt tribute. “To us budding naturalists, he was a walking Wikipedia whom we consulted endlessly, and he was always exceptionally generous with his vast knowledge of our flora.”

A dedicated educator and long-standing member of the Department of Biology at the University of Malta, he inspired generations of students through his passion for the natural world. Heritage Malta noted that he was “a well-known yet humble educator, with extensive knowledge of the Maltese natural environment,” who also contributed to the Scientific Committee for the Conservation of the Megalithic Temples of Malta.

Mr Lanfranco’s impact extended far beyond the classroom. He was active in several organisations and committees dedicated to safeguarding Malta’s natural heritage, and his work was formally recognised when the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) awarded him the Buonamico Award for lifetime achievement.

“Today we say goodbye to Dr Edwin Lanfranco – Malta's leading botanist, a humble honest person, a kind soul, and a man of quiet brilliance,” ERA shared in a tribute. “His love and passion for the environment and teaching will remain with all his students, friends, and family.”

His legacy is also immortalised in the very landscape he devoted his life to studying. Two endemic plant species, Atriplex lanfrancoi and Limonium lanfrancoi, were named in his honour – a testament to his immense contribution to the field of botany. The latter, a newly discovered flowering plant first described in a scientific publication in October 2023, is unique to the Maltese Islands and considered endangered due to its restricted distribution.

BirdLife Malta recalled the many times Mr Lanfranco joined them as a botany expert during youth leader trips to the countryside, where he “would delight us with anecdotes about various plants to help us be well prepared for our junior outings.”

“Rest in peace dear Edwin,” ERA concluded. “Your legacy will continue to bloom.”