Freshwater species

Freshwaters are among the most valuable ecosystems on the planet for their biodiversity and importance to livelihoods. Yet the freshwater realm is under threat, with its species declining faster than those on land and in the oceans. ��ϲʿ��¼�� is working to raise the profile of freshwater biodiversity by highlighting its value, assessing the extinction risk of freshwater species and identifying sites important for their survival.

Publication | 2021

Identification and validation of Western African freshwater Key Biodiversity…

Western Africa is rich in freshwater biodiversity and regional endemicity, supporting the entire global populations of many threatened freshwater species including fishes, molluscs, …

Grey literature | 2020

The status and distribution of freshwater fishes in Mexico

Publication | 2019

Conservation priorities for freshwater biodiversity in the Lake Malawi/Nyasa…

The Lake Malawi/Nyasa/Niassa Catchment (LMNNC) supports exceptionally high diversity and endemism of freshwater species. This globally recognised centre of freshwater biodiversity is of…

Value of freshwater biodiversity

Foundational to water and nutrient cycles, wetlands provide a vital source of water, food, medicine and income. Freshwater habitats are essential for flood control and climate change mitigation.

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10%

of all known species are supported by wetlands, which cover less than 1% of the Earth's surface.

(Strayer and Dudgeon, 2010)

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83%

- the percentage freshwater vertebrate populations have declined since 1970.

(WWF, 2018)

��ϲʿ��¼��'s work on freshwater biodiversity

��ϲʿ��¼�� is leading the assessment of freshwater species (including crabs, crayfishes and shrimps, fishes, molluscs, dragonflies and damselflies, and plants) for The ��ϲʿ��¼�� Red List of Threatened Species and helping identify Key Biodiversity Areas that are important for the survival of these species. This knowledge is used to advise governments, NGOs, the private sector and other stakeholders for informing effective conservation measures.

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Story

Freshwater for the Future

Freshwater resources and the life and diversity they sustain are under mounting pressure from mass alteration of the river, estuarine, peatland, wetland and watershed ecosystems worldwide, made…

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Story | 14 Apr, 2022

New taskforce launched to protect freshwater biodiversity through harmonized…

Less than 1% of the Earth’s surface is covered by freshwater, yet freshwater ecosystems hold a disproportionately large amount of the world’s species and genetic diversity. At the same time, these…

Blog | 02 Feb, 2022

Wetland action to benefit both people and nature

Blog — “Wetlands Action for People and Nature” – that is the theme for World Wetlands Day this year, focusing on how to invest our human resources into ensuring the world’s wetlands are…

Grey literature | 2022

The conservation status of freshwater species and habitats in Key Biodiversity…

This report presents the results of a broad assessment of the freshwater diversity in four Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and some key additional sites in the Sebou river basin in Morocco.

Story | 23 May, 2022

Fantastic Freshwater: 50 landmark species for conservation

To mark International Day for Biodiversity (22 May), a new report shines the spotlight on overlooked and underappreciated freshwater species that are in urgent need of conservation. …