Peter Haase

I’m Peter Haase, based at the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research and the University of Duisburg-Essen. Our work identifies how, where, and why biodiversity is changing over time. Our nominated research finds that freshwater biodiversity across Europe has recovered over the past 50 years in response to targeted measures. Unfortunately, new stressors including climate change and emerging pollutants have stalled this recovery. Freshwater ecosystems remain below the threshold for good ecological quality targeted by the EU. Our results demonstrate both sides of the coin—negative ramifications for freshwater biodiversity when planetary boundaries are exceeded—but also an encouraging example of how appropriate action can ameliorate degraded ecosystems.