A Global Agenda for Advancing Freshwater Biodiversity Research

Abstract

Freshwater biodiversity is declining dramatically, and the current biodiversity crisis requires defining bold goals and mobilizing substantial resources to meet the challenges. While the reasons are varied, both research and conservation of freshwater biodiversity lag far behind efforts in the terrestrial and marine realms. We identify fifteen pressing global needs to support informed global freshwater biodiversity stewardship. The proposed agenda aims to advance freshwater biodiversity research globally as a critical step in improving coordinated action towards its sustainable management and conservation.

Research networks should improve connectivity for halting freshwater insect extinctions

“…The lack of solutions studies emphasises the importance of instigating emergency recovery plans for freshwater ecosystems, structured around six priority actions including accelerating implementation of environmental flows, improving water quality, protecting and restoring critical habitats, managing exploitation of species, and safeguarding and restoring freshwater connectivity (Tickner et al ., 2020). Also, a recent initiative proposes an agenda to advance freshwater biodiversity research to support and improve the conservation and sustainable use of freshwater resources, including 15 priorities grouped into five major research areas, including management (Maasri et al ., 2021). Solutions to conserve freshwater insects may also be achieved by integrated studies that use other multiple taxonomic groups (Leal et al ., 2020) and also considering the terrestrial matrix around freshwater systems (Samways, 2020).…”

Sustainability Perception of Lotic and Lentic Ecosystems in the Amazon Basin Through the Lens of a Local Community

“…About the role of the municipal management, a lack of actions and investments are identified regarding basic sanitation to improve the quality of life of its citizens, specifically those located further away, which would partly allow the achievement of sustainability in compliance with the Global Agenda (Maasri et al 2021). The new legal framework for basic sanitation states within its main focuses: (i) A target of 99% of the population with access to drinking water; (ii) a target of 90% of the population with access to sewage collection and treatment; and (iii) actions to reduce water waste and use rainwater.…”

“…The plenty of ecosystem services provided by water resources must be stated: store freshwater, provide fishing resources and favour the well-being of citizens with leisure and educational recreation, while considering the interpretation carried out by geotourism. Thus, in the face of so many advantages, it has been a source of prosperity for all living beings, legitimising the objectives of the Global Agenda with the challenge of improving management in remote places (Maasri et al 2021). Lastly, it is worth mentioning that geotourism is a process for everyone's participation, in which citizens, water resources management authorities, national and local territories should consider the institutional and legal frameworks, while the numerous sectors that move the economy must be committed to guaranteeing a sustainable water resource.…”

Multi-Scale Spectral Separability of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Species in a Freshwater Ecosystem

“…SAV is also facing severe threats in the forms of warming waters, increased water levels, invasive species, and human modification to waterways (Massicotte et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2017;United Nations Environment Programme, 2020). Monitoring is therefore critical to assessing the health of SAV communities, their population dynamics, and changes in their distributions due to these pressures as well as to evaluating the efficacy of ecological management projects (Harper et al, 2021;Maasri et al, 2021). As optical remote sensing is widely effective in terrestrial vegetation monitoring in many applications including biodiversity assessment, forestry, agriculture, etc.…”

“…(e.g., Asner et al, 2009;Johansen et al, 2020;Sanders et al, 2021), there is a desire to expand the use of the discipline to underwater ecosystems. Optical remote sensing has been suggested as a preferred method for large scale SAV monitoring (Duffy et al, 2019;United Nations Environment Programme, 2020;Dierssen et al, 2021;Maasri et al, 2021) and has been effective in detecting SAV communities at local and regional scales (Wolter et al, 2005;Giardino et al, 2015;Santos et al, 2016;Chen et al, 2018). Past SAV monitoring applications have however largely focused on seagrasses and marine algae growing in clear coastal waters.…”