WWF UK- Rivers and lakes

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Rivers and lakes

Why protect our freshwater ecosystems?

Without water there would be no life on Earth. Freshwater ecosystems clean and store the water that is essential for human livelihoods and for the survival of wildlife. These ecosystems are a vital component in the hydrological cycle.

But the world's water has been mismanaged and our freshwater ecosystems degraded rapidly in the last century. As a result, more than half of global wetlands have been destroyed and WWF's index of freshwater species populations has declined significantly since 1970.

People are feeling the consequences of this too: over the last 50 years, the frequency of severe flooding and the damage it causes have increased, in part due to the degradation of freshwater ecosystems. If current consumption patterns continue, nearly half the world's projected population will live in water-stressed river basins by 2025.

WWF in Action

WWF-UK works on key freshwater projects across the world and on issues critical to the protection of freshwater resources.

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Working around the world

WWF-UK is working on projects in key river basins and wetland areas around the world, such as the Yangtze in China and the Great Ruaha in Tanzania, in order to address threats to water resources in an integrated manner and ensure the long term security of these freshwater ecosystems.

Water footprint

Global pressure on freshwater resources is intensifying due to increasing rising demand for ‘thirsty’ products, such as cotton and sugarcane. WWF-UK is pioneering the development and use of water footprinting to help assess and reduce the impacts this overuse has on freshwater ecosystems.

Climate and water

Climate change threatens communities and ecosystems worldwide. WWF-UK is working with partners to assess the vulnerability of key rivers and the people who live along them and to plan how best to minimise the adverse impacts of our changing climate.

Overhead shot of sewage treatment plant, Brazil

Dams and infrastructure

Dams store drinking water, help to irrigate farmland, generate electricity and reduce the risk of floods. But most of the world’s rivers are now fragmented by large dams, threatening migratory fish and other species. WWF-UK is pressing for better standards that ensure only the right dams are built in the right places.

Agriculture and water

Agriculture provides our food and fibre but soaks up 70% of the water we use, and is perhaps the biggest single driver behind the loss of freshwater ecosystems. WWF-UK is encouraging farmers and the world’s largest food sector companies to implement better management practices that use water efficiently and minimise harmful chemical pollution.

Dragonfly photographed in the Lower Danube river basin. Ukraine

Wetlands and biodiversity

Home to some of the richest biodiversity on Earth, wetlands also provide food, freshwater, building materials and services such as water treatment and erosion control. However, half the world's wetlands have been destroyed over the last 100 years. WWF-UK is supporting partners to protect and manage some of the world’s most spectacular wetlands wisely