We are delighted to announce that Peter Haase researcher at the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, and a key contributor to the MARCO-BOLO project under WP3, has been awarded a Frontiers Planet Prize. This prize, launched by the Frontiers Research Foundation, aims to accelerate scientific solutions for a healthier planet.
Peter Haase, along with his colleagues, won this award for their article “The Recovery of European Freshwater Biodiversity Has Come to a Halt,” published in Nature in 2023. The paper highlights the pressing need for further action to restore freshwater ecosystems, despite past legislative measures showing some success.
Freshwater ecosystems, such as rivers, lakes, and streams, cover only about 2% of the Earth’s surface but harbour an estimated 10% of all known animal species. These ecosystems provide essential resources, including clean water. However, human activities have led to significant environmental degradation, resulting in high biodiversity losses. Haase’s research shows that although mitigation measures, like improved wastewater treatment, have led to some recovery of freshwater biodiversity, this recovery stalled around 2010.
The study emphasises the importance of continued and enhanced efforts to reduce pollutants, restore natural water flows, and implement effective legislative measures to protect these vital ecosystems. The findings serve as a critical reminder of the need for ongoing and intensified conservation efforts to safeguard freshwater biodiversity.
The MARCO-BOLO team congratulates Peter Haase on this outstanding achievement. His work contributes to our understanding of freshwater ecosystem recovery and underscores the importance of coordinated, science-based actions to address the planetary environmental crisis.
Winning article: The recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has come to a halt (Nature, 2023)