Chinese scientist Lu Qi was announced as the recipient of the Champions of the Earth award by the United Nations Environment Programme on Tuesday.

Lu, chief scientist of the Chinese Academy of Forestry and director of the Institute of Great Green Wall, became the first Chinese person to receive the award in the Science and Innovation category.

Inger Andersen, executive director of the UNEP, highly praised Lu for his contributions to global desertification control. She said that Lu has demonstrated through practice that by combining science and policy, humanity can address land degradation issues, help communities adapt to climate change, and build a better future for millions of people.

"Almost 40 percent of the world's land is already degraded, desertification is on the rise and devastating droughts are becoming more regular. The good news is that solutions already exist today, and around the world, extraordinary individuals and organizations are demonstrating that it is possible to defend and heal our planet," she said.