Fresh water, fresh thinking

Each year a group of exceptional people, the WWF Guardians, pledge to support one of our most vital programmes and over the years their generosity has helped protect many of the world’s most vulnerable species, habitats and people.

This year we’re asking the Guardians to help protect the very essence of life itself – fresh water.  

Fresh water is as crucial to us as the blood running through our veins. In fact you could say that a river runs through us all – linking people and wildlife across the world. Yet our latest Living Planet Report shows that freshwater wildlife populations declined by over 80% between 1970 and 2012 – more than double that of land and sea based species. Shockingly, only 17% of England’s rivers are classed as healthy, and many of the world’s rivers are polluted or running dry.

Unless we act quickly, things will only get worse, as water use and the effects of climate change increase. And that’s why we’re asking for the Guardians’ help.

We ask each Guardian to pledge a minimum of £1,000 and by pledging your support today you can help us tackle this serious global water challenge and build a brighter future for people and wildlife. As a Guardian you’ll receive exclusive updates on the progress of the projects you’re supporting, as well as invitations to special events around the country.

Read on to find out more about our vital work, or call Maria from our Guardians Team on 01483 426333 for more information.

Despite their value and importance, rivers, lakes and wetlands around the world are being severely damaged by human activity.

We’re acting wastefully, abstracting water faster than it can be replenished, and polluting and disrupting freshwater systems. Climate change is adding to the pressure, affecting fresh water and precipitation levels, and intensifying the threat of devastating floods and droughts.   

Agriculture is a major concern

Globally, 70% of fresh water is withdrawn for agricultural irrigation, around 20% for industry and around 10% for domestic use. Converting natural grasslands or forests into farmland or plantations also affects the overall availability and cycle of water in a river basin.

Many rivers are polluted

Run-off from farmland and chemicals from industry impair water quality, kill fish and destroy ecosystems that wildlife depend on. In the Yangtze river, fish are dying due to pollution from agricultural run-off. Yet millions of people have little choice but to use these polluted rivers and streams for drinking, bathing and growing crops. 

Dams are disrupting river flows

Dams and their supporting infrastructure disrupt free-flowing rivers, causing untold harm to freshwater ecosystems and wildlife. Fish migration routes are obstructed and breeding grounds reduced. Construction noise and increased boat traffic intensify the risk of harm to river dolphins and porpoises.

This challenge affects us all

Although we're used to having water on tap here in the UK, we can’t be complacent. Only 17% of England’s rivers are classed as healthy. Drained almost dry in places, and polluted in others, they’re under growing pressure from climate change. Yet research shows that a third of the water we take from rivers is wasted.

We’re empowering local communities to help protect the Ganges river and its incredible wildlife, including freshwater turtles and gharials.

Mr Luvkush farms along the banks of the River Ganges, near Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to an amazing array of wildlife, such as swamp deer, leopards, gharials, freshwater turtles, Ganges river dolphins and many species of birds and fish. But the rich biodiversity is under threat from over-abstraction, overfishing, sand extraction and pollution. Wetlands and marshes are shrinking, river flows are dwindling and wildlife is declining. By involving local people we’re helping to bring this mighty river back to life.

Community commitment

Freshwater turtles lay their eggs in the sandbanks that appear each year in the riverbed. Yet farmers like Mr Luvkush also use the sandbanks to grow watermelon and cucumber crops, exposing the nests to accidental damage. Now, the farmers act as protectors, monitoring the nests and notifying conservation teams, who retrieve the eggs and release the hatchlings into safer stretches of river. Since 2009, over a thousand turtles have been released into the Ganges and Ramganga rivers.

The Ramganga is a tributary of the Ganges and, in 2010, we helped start a Mitras initiative there. ‘Mitra’ means ‘friend’ in Hindi, and the Mitra members – all local volunteers, are true conservation champions. They carry out a wide range of activities, from measuring water quality and flow, to protecting wildlife. The Mitras also help carry out the annual Ganges river dolphin surveys. There are only around 3,500 of these dolphins left in the wild, so monitoring their numbers is crucial.

Dr Seema Mahendra is a Ramganga Mitra. As a child, Seema paddled in the river and played on its banks, and now she’s determined to help restore this once pristine river to its former glory. She often brings her mother and son to river conservation workshops: “It’s my responsibility to connect my children with nature, especially the river”.

We’re tackling the impacts of sand extraction and overfishing, to give these rare porpoises the best chance of survival.

The Yangtze, Asia’s longest river, is home to 350 types of fish, 145 different amphibians, 166 reptiles, 762 bird species, 280 mammals and more than 14,000 different plants. Yet it’s also one of the world’s busiest and most polluted waterways. Today, there are as few as 1,000 Yangtze finless porpoises. They’re scattered in small, isolated groups in the middle and lower reaches of the main river and four of its lakes, including Dongting and Poyang. But their future is far from certain.

In Dongting and Poyang lakes, increased sand dredging for the construction industry has resulted in lower water levels, as well as a decline in water quality and flow to surrounding wetlands. This is affecting the number of fish that both people and the porpoises rely on. Overfishing is also reducing fish stocks and increasing the risk of the porpoises being accidentally caught in fishing gear, causing injury and possibly death. We’re working hard to address these threats.

In the world’s largest natural wetland, we’re helping local farmers to restore and protect the vital water sources they rely on.

The Pantanal is an immense patchwork of lagoons, lakes and marshes, which supports a rich variety of valuable biodiversity, including magnificent jaguars. It also provides drinking water and supports essential services such as food production and tourism for the eight million or so people in the region. Small-scale farmer, José Apolinário (pictured above), is one of them.

José and his family live upstream, where the quality and quantity of water in the rivers and springs have a direct impact on the Pantanal below. Yet, increasingly, human activity is having a detrimental effect.

The Apolinários’ small property shares natural springs with a neighbour, and this has caused issues. “The water here didn't dry up, because it was protected by the surrounding vegetation,” explains José. “Then my neighbour cleared the vegetation and the water decreased quite a bit.” Thankfully, things have improved.

In Kenya, we’re introducing water-friendly farming practices to boost crop yields, reduce erosion and improve the Mara river’s flow

The Mara river is the lifeblood of the whole Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. It supports millions of people and some of the most incredible wildlife on the planet, including rhinos, elephants and lions. Every year, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle cross the river, in one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife migrations. But increasing demand for water to supply crops, livestock and industry is taking its toll. 

As more land is cleared for farming, fertile topsoil washes into the river, clogging it with sediment and affecting the flow. By enabling local farmers to use simple yet effective conservation practices, we can help ensure the Mara provides enough clean water for everyone. Nancy Rono is an inspiring example of what this practical support can achieve.

Nancy, a single mother of three young boys, farms an acre of land on the steep slopes above a tributary of the Mara. In the past she struggled to keep the farm going because of a lack of clean water. “Before, the river was so dirty, all things were dumped there. This caused an outbreak of disease and people got very sick”.

Here in the UK, we're helping to improve water quality in five river basins, including iconic chalk streams like the River Itchen in Hampshire.

Some of our most beautiful rivers are chalk streams. Their pure, clear waters come from underground chalk aquifers and springs, flowing across flinty gravel beds. They make ideal habitats for otters, water voles, kingfishers, migrating salmon and many more wonderful wild creatures to thrive. But our rivers need help.

There are just 224 chalk streams in the world and most of them are in the southern half of England, with a few in northern France. Yet more than 77% are failing to meet required standards such as nutrient and oxygen levels, and only 12 are protected. We’re working with communities, farmers, industries and government agencies to address the issues.

The River Itchen currently supplies water to almost half a million homes. We’re working with local water companies and authorities to ensure abstraction is kept at a sustainable level. For example, we’ve been helping to promote the use of water meters, and encouraging people to save household water by making small yet effective changes. These include running washing machines and dishwashers on eco settings, and only when full.