First-Ever Global Freshwater Fauna Assessment by IUCN

1. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has conducted the first-ever multi-taxon global freshwater fauna assessment for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
2. This comprehensive evaluation provides vital information on the health and conservation status of freshwater species across the globe.
    

Key Findings
 

1. Threatened Species: About 24% of the world’s freshwater species are at risk of extinction, highlighting the urgency of conservation efforts.
    
2. Major Hotspots: Some of the most critical regions for freshwater fauna include:
   1. Lake Victoria (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda)
   2. Lake Titicaca (Bolivia, Peru)
   3. Sri Lanka’s Wet Zone
   4. Western Ghats (India)
       
3. Most Threatened Species: Species of crabs, crayfishes, and shrimps are among the most at risk, followed by freshwater fishes. Of the 23,496 species assessed, at least 4,294 species are classified as being at high risk of extinction.
    
4. Other Factors: Interestingly, areas with higher water stress and eutrophication (an excess of nutrients in water leading to algae overgrowth) do not necessarily have more threatened species compared to areas with lower water stress and eutrophication.
    

About Freshwater Landscapes
 

Freshwater ecosystems, which are home to 10% of all known species on Earth, are crucial for human survival and biodiversity. These ecosystems provide:
 

1. Safe drinking water
2. Livelihoods
3. Flood control
4. Climate change mitigation
    

However, these landscapes are under severe threat from various human activities:
 

1. Pollution: Mainly from agriculture and forestry, which contribute to water contamination.
2. Degradation: Caused by land conversion for agricultural use, water extraction, and the construction of dams.
3. Other Threats: These include overfishing and the introduction of invasive alien species, which disrupt the balance of native ecosystems.

 

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