Safeguarding Rivers and Lakes
Safeguarding and restoring healthy, resilient freshwater systems is key to achieving global goals for water, food, climate change, nature and sustainable development. But rivers and lakes are among the most threatened ecosystems. The 85% collapse in freshwater species populations since 1970 is the clearest sign of the damage we have done to our rivers, lakes and other freshwater ecosystems.
Most long rivers across the world are dammed and cut off from their natural floodplains. Only a third still flow freely. The fragmentation and loss of rivers, lakes and floodplains is a result of ill-advised dams, irrigation schemes and other infrastructure projects that abstract, or remove water, changing the volume, speed and quality of water that flows through the ecosystem. Such changes can have disastrous consequences up and downstream. Climate change is exacerbating the challenges.
Our strategic approach to safeguarding rivers and lakes
Demonstrating impact: We co-create and implement direct site-based action with partners in a variety of landscapes, including Ziway–Shalla (Ethiopia), Pantanal (Brazil), Inner Niger Delta (Mali), Lamu–Tana (Kenya), Victoria Reserve (Argentina) and Western Himalaya (India). We also work to reconnect rivers and lakes, targeting 1,000 km of rivers reconnected and 5,000 hectares of wetlands restored across Europe, South Asia and South America.
Leading through knowledge: We are developing the Wetland Atlas, which will provide data and knowledge underpinning rivers and lakes prioritisation, advocacy and evidence-based decision-making, by leveraging the GEO-Wetlands partnership. We are also contributing freshwater data layers to our network’s ambitious plans to develop a Global Wetland Observatory.
Creating a movement: We are a Core Partner of the country-led Freshwater Challenge and host the coordinator. We are supporting efforts to scale up country and company membership and accelerate action. The Challenge already boasts over 50 country members and the EU. We also actively building coalitions to broaden the movement for river and lake connectivity.
Leveraging systemic change: We are scaling up our water policy and advocacy to embed freshwater wetlands in UNCCD, CBD, UNFCCC and UN Water processes. We are also prioritising corporate water stewardship, including replicating the model being implemented in the Ziway-Shala basin in Ethiopia across other priority landscapes and mobilising finance and partnerships at scale. We will continue to work on water, peace and security: addressing water-related conflict and instability through data-driven diplomacy and governance in Mali, Kenya and Ethiopia.