A decade ago, the AEON Environmental Foundation established the MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity to signal its support for the goals of the CBD and to recognize individuals who have contributed to them. I was surprised and honoured to receive Chairman Okada’s notice that I had been selected as a recipient. My surprise reflected the fact that most past laureates have advanced the protection of biodiversity through direct action at a national or international level. My work has a different goal; it is provisioning humanity with a scientific approach that will both speed the inventory of life and enable a global biosurveillance system. I have pursued these goals for 20 years aided by a wonderful research alliance, the International Barcode of Life (iBOL) Consortium. I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of iBOL.
The MIDORI Prizes have great symbolic importance; they focus attention on the fact that we are embedded in the biosphere – for better or worse. The surge in human populations over recent decades has set the stage for biotic devastation in diverse forms. This year has seen an unknown virus shatter the global economy and transform our lives. Its impact stands as a stark reminder that we know very little about life on our planet. However, a far more serious crisis looms – the threat that our species will induce the first mass extinction in 65 million years. COVID-19 has shown that humanity can mobilize tremendous resources in times of crisis. We need to get serious, really serious, about ensuring that the wonderful diversity of organisms that share our planet are not crushed by the human pandemic. The CBD plays a key role in avoiding this outcome; it is mobilizing individuals, organizations, and nations to seek knowledge and take actions that will allow humanity to better support nature. iBOL will be there to help.