In his speech on the occasion of receiving the 2008 BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Ecology, biologist Thomas Lovejoy addresses the biodiversity crisis and the urgency of understanding and conserving natural systems in the face of climate change and human pressures. Lovejoy highlights how species loss and habitat degradation are not only environmental issues but also threats to ecological stability and human well-being. He emphasizes the importance of ecological research, international collaboration, and the integration of science with public policy to design effective conservation strategies. In his remarks, he underscores the role of ecology as a key discipline for understanding the interconnections between species, ecosystems, and societies, and for guiding decisions aimed at preserving the planet’s biological richness.
The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledg
In his speech on the occasion of receiving the 2008 BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Ecology, biologist Thomas Lovejoy addresses the biodiversity crisis and the urgency of understanding and conserving natural systems in the face of climate change and human pressures. Lovejoy highlights how species loss and habitat degradation are not only environmental issues but also threats to ecological stability and human well-being. He emphasizes the importance of ecological research, international collaboration, and the integration of science with public policy to design effective conservation strategies. In his remarks, he underscores the role of ecology as a key discipline for understanding the interconnections between species, ecosystems, and societies, and for guiding decisions aimed at preserving the planet’s biological richness.
The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Ecology and Conservation Biology is awarded ex aequo to Thomas E. Lovejoy and William F. Laurance for their contributions to understanding the effects of land-use change on biodiversity. The work of these two American biologists has had a significant impact on both the theory and practice of conservation science.
