Guest Author: Rob St. John

We are in a crucial ‘window’ of time to protect and restore global freshwater biodiversity, according to a major new journal article. The authors – a group of scientists from across the world – write that there is growing public and political recognition of the need to ‘mainstream’ biodiversity conservation across all areas of everyday life.

Writing in the WIRES Water journal, the authors highlight the vital roles that freshwater biodiversity plays in supporting human lives: from food and materials; to cultural and recreation; and climate regulation to water purification. As a result, conserving and restoring freshwater habitats offers a path towards achieving what the UN term the ‘future we want’: a more sustainable future for people and nature.

Reflecting on the opportunities offered by the recent IPBES and UNFCCC biodiversity and climate policy conferences, the authors identify the critical ecosystem services which depend on freshwater biodiversity. Resulting from collaborations between scientists across the world, the paper highlights the diverse ways in which ‘people need freshwater biodiversity’.

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