Despite being highly stressed, freshwater ecosystems are highly biologically diverse and important for economic development and livelihoods. The loss of biodiversity in rivers, lakes and wetlands has been ignored for years. Although terrestrial and marine species have received most of the conservation attention, a significant portion of the world’s biodiversity can be found in freshwater ecosystems, which make up a relatively small area. A newly published study in the journal Nature sheds light on this issue.

The title of the study is A quarter of freshwater species are threatened with extinction. Provides the first comprehensive assessment of threats to the survival of freshwater species. To assess threats to freshwater fish, dragonflies and dam flies, scientists used recently developed “red lists” for these species. For biodiversity conservation worldwide, freshwater ecologists believe the study will shift focus to the need to protect these critical areas.

According to the authors of study, “Globally, biodiversity is declining, with freshwater ecosystems particularly affected.” Based on monitored natural inland wetlands (including peatlands, marshes, swamps, lakes, rivers and ponds), between 1970 and 2015 35% of wetland area was lost three times faster than forests. “

“Of the remaining wetland habitats, 65% are at moderate to high risk, and 37% of rivers over 1,000 km are no longer free-flowing along their entire length. Decline continues, generally Out of sight and out of sight, freshwater supports more than 10 percent of all known species, while one-third are fish Covers only less than 1 percent of the surface.”

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