The Volvo Environment Prize is an annual scientific award now presented for the 21st time. This year’s prizewinner has for many years been a leading light within research into biological diversity and especially how important it is for the functioning of ecosystem services. This concept has been widely acknowledged in recent years, perhaps mainly due to an international research program, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, where Professor Mooney has played a leading role.

Ecosystem services are the functions of an ecosystem that in some ways benefit mankind. The most obvious are food or materials that most people recognize as delivered by ecosystems: wood, fish, fruit and vegetables or other things that we can more or less extract directly. But other functions are also of vital importance, such as pollinating insects or the cleansing of air, soil or water. One example is when oil released into the Gulf of Mexico earlier this year after the explosion of the BP oil-drilling rig, was digested by oil-consuming microorganisms. That was an example of the regulating function of an ecosystem. Another example is adjustment of the atmosphere’s chemical composition by the organisms in the biosphere.

“We take these functions for granted but they are exposed to great threat today,” says Harold Mooney. “Water is being polluted, soil is being degraded and biologically rich seas and forests are being depleted. This brings the risk that ecosystem services will increasingly fail to provide for and protect us.”

He is, however, optimistic about the future since awareness of the issue is increasing across the world. Harold Mooney has been active in the foundation of IPBES, Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, which, like the UN climate panel, IPCC, works to create scientific consensus and communication with decision-makers.

Source: https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/enhanced/en-gb/Media/Preview.aspx?mediaid=34656

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