Freshwater ecosystems ‒ our rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands ‒ are some of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Yet they are also among the most threatened. Despite covering a tiny fraction of the planet’s surface, they support an extraordinary variety of life. Today, however, freshwater species are declining at alarming rates due to habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, overexploitation, and the intensifying effects of climate change.

A recent global assessment of freshwater animals on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ revealed that 24% of the world’s freshwater species, including fish, dragonfly, damselfly, crab, crayfish, and shrimp are at high risk of extinction. For several groups, including freshwater crustaceans, that figure rises to nearly 30%. These findings underscore the urgency of scaling up conservation action, collaboration, and knowledge exchange. 

To shed light on the latest efforts and innovations in freshwater conservation, IUCN Save Our Species is pleased to invite you to our upcoming webinar:

This session will bring together grantees, experts and partners working across IUCN’s Fondation Segré Conservation Action Fund, the SOS Sturgeons Initiative, and global efforts such as SHOAL’s 1,000 Fishes Initiative. Through real-world case studies and a rich panel discussion, we will explore practical solutions, cross-cutting challenges, and pathways to strengthen collaboration for the recovery of threatened freshwater species.

What to expect

The webinar will highlight:

• Field insights from IUCN grantees working on freshwater species recovery across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
• Innovative collaborations, including SHOAL’s efforts to mobilise global action for the world’s most threatened freshwater fishes and species.
• Opportunities for engagement, cross-learning, and collective action across the freshwater conservation community.

Speakers

Why attend?

Freshwater ecosystems are facing a crisis—but they are also highly resilient when given a chance to recover. This webinar provides a platform to:

• Learn from on-the-ground conservation and research projects delivering real impact
• Exchange best practices with peers across regions and disciplines
• Discover emerging partnerships and tools to strengthen your own work
• Join a growing community committed to turning the tide for freshwater species

Whether you are a practitioner, donor, student, researcher, policymaker, or member of the IUCN network, your participation helps advance collective understanding and action.

About us

IUCN’s Species Conservation Action team supports science-based conservation to address the main threats to biodiversity and save species from extinction.

We work with experts around the world to design initiatives, such as IUCN Save Our Species and the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme, which maximise conservation impacts for species, habitats and people.