Skip to main content
SLU publication database (SLUpub)

Research article2023Peer reviewedOpen access

People need freshwater biodiversity

Lynch, Abigail J.; Cooke, Steven J.; Arthington, Angela H.; Baigun, Claudio; Bossenbroek, Lisa; Dickens, Chris; Harrison, Ian; Kimirei, Ismael; Langhans, Simone D.; Murchie, Karen J.; Olden, Julian D.; Ormerod, Steve J.; Owuor, Margaret; Raghavan, Rajeev; Samways, Michael J.; Schinegger, Rafaela; Sharma, Subodh; Tachamo-Shah, Ram-Devi; Tickner, David; Tweddle, Denis;
Show more authors

Abstract

Freshwater biodiversity, from fish to frogs and microbes to macrophytes, provides a vast array of services to people. Mounting concerns focus on the accelerating pace of biodiversity loss and declining ecological function within freshwater ecosystems that continue to threaten these natural benefits. Here, we catalog nine fundamental ecosystem services that the biotic components of indigenous freshwater biodiversity provide to people, organized into three categories: material (food; health and genetic resources; material goods), non-material (culture; education and science; recreation), and regulating (catchment integrity; climate regulation; water purification and nutrient cycling). If freshwater biodiversity is protected, conserved, and restored in an integrated manner, as well as more broadly appreciated by humanity, it will continue to contribute to human well-being and our sustainable future via this wide range of services and associated nature-based solutions to our sustainable future.This article is categorized under:Human Water > Value of WaterWater and Life > Nature of Freshwater EcosystemsScience of Water > Water and Environmental Change

Keywords

ecosystem services; freshwater biodiversity; freshwater ecosystems; freshwater life

Published in

WIREs Water
2023, volume: 10, number: 3, article number: e1633
Publisher: WILEY

SLU Authors

Associated SLU-program

Nature experiences and health

Global goals (SDG)

SDG6 Clean water and sanitation
SDG15 Life on land

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology
Environmental Sciences

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1633

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/121446