Working Paper Review Version 1 This version is not peer-reviewed

Bending the Curve of Global Freshwater Biodiversity Loss – An Emergency Recovery Plan

Version 1 : Received: 28 October 2019 / Approved: 29 October 2019 / Online: 29 October 2019 (11:13:47 CET)

How to cite: Tickner, D.; Opperman, J.; Abell, R.; Acreman, M.; Arthington, A.H.; Bunn, S.E.; Cooke, S.J.; Dalton, J.; Darwall, W.; Edwards, G.; Harrison, I.; Hughes, K.; Jones, T.; Leclère, D.; Lynch, A.J.; Leonard, P.; McClain, M.E.; Muruven, D.; Olden, J.D.; Ormerod, S.; Tharme, R.E.; Thieme, M.; Tockner, K.; Wright, M.; Young, L. Bending the Curve of Global Freshwater Biodiversity Loss – An Emergency Recovery Plan. Preprints 2019, 2019100339 Tickner, D.; Opperman, J.; Abell, R.; Acreman, M.; Arthington, A.H.; Bunn, S.E.; Cooke, S.J.; Dalton, J.; Darwall, W.; Edwards, G.; Harrison, I.; Hughes, K.; Jones, T.; Leclère, D.; Lynch, A.J.; Leonard, P.; McClain, M.E.; Muruven, D.; Olden, J.D.; Ormerod, S.; Tharme, R.E.; Thieme, M.; Tockner, K.; Wright, M.; Young, L. Bending the Curve of Global Freshwater Biodiversity Loss – An Emergency Recovery Plan. Preprints 2019, 2019100339

Abstract

Despite their limited spatial extent, freshwater ecosystems host remarkable biodiversity, including one third of all vertebrate species. This biodiversity is declining dramatically: globally, wetlands are vanishing three times faster than forests and freshwater vertebrate populations have fallen more than twice as steeply as terrestrial or marine populations. Threats to freshwater biodiversity are well- documented but co-ordinated action to reverse this decline is lacking. We present an Emergency Recovery Plan to “bend the curve” of freshwater biodiversity loss. Priorities for action include: 1) accelerating implementation of environmental flows, 2) improving water quality, 3) protecting and restoring critical habitats, 4) managing exploitation of freshwater species and riverine aggregates, 5) preventing and controlling non-native species invasions, and 6) safeguarding and restoring river connectivity. We recommend revised targets and indicators for the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals, and investment in enabling conditions at national, river basin and local scales.

Keywords

River restoration; wetlands; freshwater conservation; Sustainable Development Goals; Convention on Biological Diversity

Subject

Environmental and Earth Sciences, Ecology

Comments (2)

Comment 1
Received: 2 January 2020
Commenter:
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Comment: Postscript: This article is the original submitted (author version) of an article that has now been revised and accepted for publication in BioScience. A link to the BioScience version will follow in due course.
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Comment 2
Received: 28 February 2020
Commenter:
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Comment: The final version of this article has now been published in BioScience and is available as an open access paper at https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biaa002/5732594?searchresult=1
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