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 hosted a dedicated webinar:

Flowing together: safeguarding freshwater species through collective action

This webinar took place on 10 December 2025

This session brought 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 explored practical solutions, cross-cutting challenges, and pathways to strengthen collaboration for the recovery of threatened freshwater species.

Key takeaways from the webinar

Get insights on:

• A clear picture of the global freshwater biodiversity crisis: Learn why freshwater species are declining faster than terrestrial or marine species, with 24% of assessed freshwater animals at risk of extinction, driven by pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, overexploitation and climate change.
• Practical, science-based conservation solutions from around the world: Speakers showcased concrete results through habitat restoration, invasive species removal, genetic conservation programmes, catchment-level water management and reintroductions, from South Africa’s Fynbos Fish Revival to Indonesia’s endemic Caridina shrimps and Europe’s sturgeon recovery.
• The critical role of communities, local partners and long-term funding: The webinar demonstrated how community engagement, youth outreach, citizen science, and partnerships with landowners are essential for sustainable restoration, and why long-term investment is needed to scale successful pilots.
• Innovative approaches to reverse species declines: Participants gained insights into techniques such as chemical and mechanical invasive fish eradication, floating riverine hatcheries for sturgeon broodstock, species mapping and threat assessments, and creating priority conservation sites based on ecological data.
• Why collaboration and global networks are key to impact: Presenters emphasised that reversing freshwater species declines requires coordinated action across scientists, NGOs, governments, donors and global initiatives (e.g., IUCN SSC Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, Shoal’s 1000 Fishes programme) to expand capacity, build visibility and mobilise resources.

Speakers

Facilitator: 

• Dr. Topiltzin Contreras MacBeath, Co-Chair, IUCN SSC Freshwater Conservation Committee, Mexico

Speakers:   

• Dr. Jeremy Shelton, Freshwater Conservation Biologist, Freshwater Research Centre, South Africa – Conservation Action Grant grantee – Fondation Segré Conservation Action Fund  

• Diky Dwiyanto, PhD candidate/Head of Masyarakat Zoologi Wallacea (MZW), Indonesia – Research Support Grant grantee – Fondation Segré Conservation Action Fund  

• Thomas Friedrich, Senior Scientist, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria – IUCN Save Our Species Sturgeons grantee  

• Mike Baltzer, Executive Director, SHOAL , United Kingdom – an initiative aimed at engaging a wide range of organisations to accelerate and escalate action to save the most threatened fish and other freshwater species 

• Ana Nieto, Head, IUCN Species Conservation Action Team, Switzerland