Freshwater ecosystems are essential to human life. They support us with water, food, electricity, transportation, recreation and spiritual refuge. They purify the water we use, moderate floods and droughts and provide other economic benefits. As human demands grow, these systems are unraveling. What the world needs are practical solutions that improve conditions for nature and people. Predictions indicate that within the next 50 years, more than half the world will face water shortages. Yet, opportunities do exist to improve conditions for nature and people.

What The Nature Conservancy is Doing

The Nature Conservancy has been designing and implementing strategies to protect earth’s fresh waters for decades. We have a thorough understanding of the causes of freshwater biodiversity decline. To improve the health of freshwater resources, our focus is on practical, science-based solutions to help society meet today’s and tomorrow’s water needs for nature and people. Our efforts include:

• Reducing the Ecological Impact of Dams
• Reconnecting Floodplains with Rivers
• Protecting Watersheds and Water Supplies for Cities
• Changing Water Policies to Protect Environmental Flows
• Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Practices
• Protecting Coastal Rivers and Estuaries
• Guarding Freshwater Ecosystems from Invasive Species
• Sustaining Ecosystem Resilience to Climate Change

Deep investment in over 600 freshwater projects around the world informs these efforts.  We work with local communities, build alliances to support new approaches, share our innovations with others, and establish meaningful and productive partnerships with some of the world’s most influential water, energy and agricultural companies and organizations to accomplish our work.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Bridget Besaw (Colombian fisherman); Photo © Courtesy of Water Partners International (girl drinking water, India).