Water for Nature
Freshwater ecosystems—including rivers, lakes, and wetlands—provide most of the easily accessible drinking water on the planet. They also support a wide variety of other species, including fish and other aquatic organisms, wildlife and plants. Ecosystem health can suffer from both water depletion and water pollution. Overuse and misuse of water resources affect freshwater ecosystems and the organisms reliant on the ecosystem, including humans.
In response to increasing concerns about water supplies governments around the world are exploring ways to sustainably manage freshwater. There is growing recognition that healthy freshwater ecosystems provide valuable natural services—such as water purification, plant and animal foods, flood control, recreation, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity maintenance—that are being lost because of improper water management.
The compatible integration of human and natural ecosystem needs is essential in order to manage water in an ecologically sustainable manner.
Water for Nature: Related areas of expertise
Learn more about our partners' experience in these areas:
Agrometeorological forecasting and vulnerability analysis
Aquatic biodiversity and habitat management
Coastal hazard mitigation
Environmental certification schemes
Environmental education and communication
Environmental flows management
Environmental law
Fisheries and coastal ecosystems management plans
Freshwater and near shore fisheries management
Freshwater aquaculture
Hydrometeorology
Irrigation and drainage management
Land use planning
Parks and protected areas management
Post-disaster assessment and restoration
Property rights management
Seasonal climate and extreme event forecasting
Shoreline management and coastal erosion
Soil and water conservation
Water drainage and storage infrastructure
Water pollution prevention and control
Water source protection
Watershed management
View all areas of expertise