Bojie Fu wins 2026 Volvo Environment Prize for Loess Plateau restoration

For centuries, the plateau suffered from aggressive overgrazing and intensive cultivation, leading to severe soil erosion and sediment runoff into the Yellow River. The landscape was effectively dying until the implementation of large-scale restoration efforts like the 'Grain for Green' program. Professor Fu, a geographer at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, provided the critical data needed to shift these efforts from blind mass-planting campaigns to sustainable, evidence-based management.

His research proved that while vegetation helps capture carbon and stabilize soil, poor planning—such as choosing the wrong species or planting too densely—could worsen regional water scarcity. By integrating local agricultural needs with ecological science, Fu helped align government policy with environmental reality. The project overcame significant resistance from local farmers by introducing compensation models, proving that restoration could coexist with economic survival.

Beyond the local success, the Prize Jury commended Fu for his ability to translate complex social-ecological data into actionable policy, offering a blueprint for environmental recovery across the Global South. He will be awarded the prize, which includes 1.5 million SEK, during a formal ceremony in Stockholm on November 2, 2026.