HELSINKI, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientist Fu Bojie was awarded the 2026 Volvo Environment Prize in Stockholm, Sweden, on Monday for his outstanding contributions to ecological restoration and sustainability research, particularly his work in improving the ecological environment of China's Loess Plateau.
Fu, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and a researcher at its Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, was recognized for his pioneering contributions to social-ecological systems and sustainability science.
The prize jury said Fu's decades of work on the Loess Plateau and other dryland regions in China has offered valuable lessons for areas worldwide facing land degradation, water scarcity and food insecurity.
Speaking to Xinhua after receiving the award, Fu said he felt deeply honored, describing the prize as recognition of Chinese scientists' achievements in ecological restoration and sustainability research, as well as China's progress in environmental protection and restoration.
He attributed the achievement to nearly three decades of environmental conservation efforts in China and long-term research support from the CAS, the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
"The work on the Loess Plateau was not mine alone. It was the result of sustained efforts by my team members and generations of students who have worked there over the years," Fu said.
According to a press release issued by the Volvo Environment Prize Foundation, decades of large-scale ecological restoration have significantly improved vegetation cover across the Loess Plateau.
The foundation said restoring the plateau was a complex, long-term undertaking, and increasing vegetation alone could not guarantee sustainable recovery.
Through extensive field studies and landscape-scale analysis, Fu and his team examined the relationships between land use, vegetation, water resources, soil, biodiversity and local livelihoods, providing a scientific basis for ecological restoration.
Their research found that restoring vegetation could reduce soil erosion, increase carbon storage and improve biodiversity. However, planting unsuitable species or planting too densely could worsen water scarcity and undermine long-term restoration efforts.
These findings helped shift restoration practices toward approaches better adapted to local conditions, balancing vegetation recovery with water availability and the needs of local communities.
The foundation also highlighted the role of China's long-running Grain for Green program and other ecological restoration initiatives in the plateau's recovery.
It said the experience of restoring the Loess Plateau offered valuable lessons for other dryland regions facing ecological degradation and water shortages.
Fu expressed hope that future research would continue to provide scientific support for modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature and contribute to global sustainable development.
First awarded in 1990, the Volvo Environment Prize is funded by Sweden's Volvo Group and is regarded as one of the world's respected awards in environmental science.
Presented annually by an independent foundation, the prize recognizes scientists whose outstanding research has made significant contributions to environmental protection, sustainability and policymaking. ■