The Volvo Environment Prize event 2023 starts soon.
Bojie Fu receives the 2026 Volvo Environment Prize
Chinese landscape ecologist Professor Bojie Fu is the recipient of the 2026 Volvo Environment Prize. He is recognized for pioneering research that has helped guide the ecological restoration of China’s Loess Plateau — once one of the world’s most severely eroded landscapes.
For decades, Fu has studied the complex relationships between vegetation, soil, water and human activity. His research has provided vital knowledge about what to plant, where to plant it and how to create vegetation that can survive in the plateau’s dry and fragile environment.
Today, large parts of the Loess Plateau are green again. Soil erosion has declined, ecosystems have recovered and living conditions have improved for millions of people.
In its citation, the Prize Jury highlights Professor Fu’s ability to connect ecological science with the needs of people and society: “For pioneering contributions to social–ecological systems and sustainability science, linking local ecological restoration with global sustainable development.” Fu’s work on the Loess Plateau and other drylands has influenced restoration projects and environmental policy far beyond China.
A new film follows Professor Bojie Fu and the remarkable recovery of China’s Loess Plateau. Premiering at the 2026 Volvo Environment Prize ceremony on November 2, it explores the research behind this transformation. Watch the trailer for a first glimpse.
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