Inland water ecosystems – such as lakes, rivers and streams, marshes and peatlands – are among the most threatened on the planet. Since 1970, monitored populations of freshwater species have declined by 85 per cent on average, a much faster rate than marine and terrestrial realms, and almost one in three species is threatened with extinction.
The well-being of inland water ecosystems is inextricably tied to ours. One third of the global food resource depends on rivers, and 40 per cent of the global fish protein consumed by humans comes from species dependent on inland waters. Recent research estimates inland waters contribute a value of US$ 50 trillion annually through the provision of natural processes that support human well-being. And more locally, they serve as sacred spaces, supporting cultural and spiritual values as well as mental and physical health.
