As part of the World Forum on Enterprise and the Environment, the Guardian has pulled together a panel of experts to answer the ‘top ten’ questions posed by readers. Readers are asked to submit their questions to panellists, who include Prof. Sir David King, and Pavan Sukhdev, leader of the TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and the Environment) study, with the answers appearing online within the next couple of weeks.

This year, the theme of the World Forum, run by the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford University, is ‘Ecosystem Services: From New Commitments to Strategic Action‘.

A news story in today’s Guardian, reporting on a study from the WWF, reveals that 600 new species have been discovered in Madagascar since 1999.

The topography and climate of Madagascar, with a mountain ridge down the centre of the Island and rainforest cover, leads to a diverse mix of wet and dry areas in which species can evolve and flourish.

Newly discovered species include the smallest known primate, Berthe’s mouse lemur, and six new species of coffee – with tremendous economic importance.

Commenting on the report, Mark Wright, WWF’s conservation science advisor, said that local people had to be part of the solution to degradation of Madagascar’s environment. People have to be given incentives to protect their forests; “If they have no practical way of making a living, of course they are going to turn to the natural resources sector and see what they can get from that, and who wouldn’t do it?” He expressed optimism for the future of Madagascan biodiversity, commenting that “There are some signs that things are good – there are growing local groups who are trying to conserve biodiversity. There is a local recognition and a need to protect it for their own reasons – that is very healthy.”

Madagascar’s record of biodiversity: 600 species discovered in a decade. Monday 6th June 2011, Alok Jha

The Guardian, Observer and the Wellcome Trust have launched a new prize for budding science writers. In an article on the Guardian’s website, journalist Alok Jha launches the prize and gives a few tips on how to get started in writing about science.

Introducing the award, Alok Hja says, “in summary, we’re looking for an 800-word article from non-professional writers suitable for publication on guardian.co.uk, in the Guardian or The Observer. There will be two prizes, one for professional scientists and another for everyone else.”

“As long as you’re not already a professional writer or journalist you can enter this competition. To encourage more people to discuss and think about science, we want to bring brilliant new writing to the attention of all our readers.”

Full information about how to enter is on the Wellcome Trust website. The closing date is 20 May and the prize will be awarded in October.

The Guardian last week published an article by George Monbiot and Guillaume Chapron, a researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, calling for readers to nominate key actions which can make a significant difference to halting biodiversity loss worldwide. The authors are seeking actions which ‘make a major contribution to protecting a particular species or ecosystem and that are ’strongly and widely supported by scientific evidence published in academic journals; but that are politically costly or opposed by special interest groups.’

Submit ideas to the Biodiversity100 campaign or see what others have suggested at the Guardian website. Readers have been given one month to submit their ideas, before the final list of 100 tasks, for presentation to G20 governments, is decided.