Rivers Are Key to Restoring the World’s Biodiversity
In the urgent call to fight climate change and halt biodiversity loss, we need to prioritize protecting rivers and freshwater ecosystems. That way, we can improve food security, preserve livelihoods, and give countless species a chance at survival.
As we strive to protect 30 percent of the world's oceans and land by 2030, our attention must go to protecting high-biodiversity areas. Rivers play a vital role in conserving and sustaining wetlands, inhabited by 40 percent of Earth's species. By safeguarding rivers, we can protect vast amounts of life and the ecosystems that depend on them.
Freshwater ecosystems have experienced alarming declines, with global freshwater species populations dropping by 84 percent since 1970. Mainstream development models and conservation policies have neglected the integrity of freshwater ecosystems and the well-being of communities dependent on them, resulting in collapsing fisheries, degraded freshwater sources, and threats to Indigenous peoples.
To halt biodiversity loss, several actions can be taken:
1. Stop Dam-Building in Protected Areas:
Dams threaten river health, especially when built in protected areas. Hundreds of dams are planned in such crucial regions globally. Canceling such projects, like the Stiegler's Gorge dam in Tanzania's Selous Game Reserve, is vital for protecting biodiversity.
2. Establish “No-Go” Zones for Development:
Extractive industries, overfishing, and industrial pollution harm freshwater ecosystems. To safeguard biodiversity hotspots, we need to designate development-free areas and decommission dams.
3. Implement Strong Water Protection Policies:
Although freshwater ecosystems are linked to terrestrial ecosystems, their importance is often overlooked. Robust protections, including policies granting rivers rights of personhood, can safeguard these vital resources.
4. Respect Indigenous Peoples’ Rights:
Indigenous peoples are vital defenders of water and biodiversity, protecting 80 percent of global biodiversity despite comprising only 5 percent of the population. Governments must respect Indigenous territorial rights and share decision-making processes.
5. Empower Women Leaders:
Women have traditionally been stewards of freshwater, and their inclusion in decision-making processes is essential. Women are leading movements worldwide to protect rivers and freshwater ecosystems, and their voices should be elevated in policy and governance.
Unrestrained economic growth has brought our planet to a crisis point. To restore biodiversity, we must prioritize equity, well-being, and the preservation of free-flowing rivers. By following the lead of Indigenous groups, empowering women, granting rights to rivers, and reducing dam construction, we can reverse the decline of freshwater ecosystems.
We are interconnected with the natural world, and its destruction is our own. Let us take action now and protect the rivers that hold the key to restoring biodiversity.
🔭 This summary was human-edited with AI-assist.
