Durable Freshwater Protection: A Framework for Establishing and Maintaining Long-Term Protection for Freshwater Ecosystems and the Values They Sustain

Jonathan Higgins, John Zablocki, Amy Newsock, Andras Krolopp, Phillip Tabas and Michael Salama
Additional contact information
Jonathan Higgins: Protect Lands and Waters, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA 22203, USA
John Zablocki: Nevada State Program, The Nature Conservancy, Las Vegas, NV 89113, USA
Amy Newsock: Protect Lands and Waters, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA 22203, USA
Andras Krolopp: Europe Region, The Nature Conservancy, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Phillip Tabas: North America Region, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA 22203, USA
Michael Salama: Protect Lands and Waters, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA 22203, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: Long-term protection is needed to secure threatened freshwater ecosystems and the social and biodiversity values they provide. In the face of existing and future pressures, current approaches to freshwater protection are often inadequate for maintaining ecosystem values into the future. While terrestrial and marine ecosystem protection are well recognized and have area-based protection goals in global conventions, freshwater ecosystem characteristics have remained poorly represented in these goals. Freshwater ecosystems are commonly secondary or unaddressed components of area-based terrestrial protection. The design and management for terrestrial-based protection are generally inadequate for addressing freshwater ecosystem processes and attributes critical for maintaining their natural patterns and the values they provide to people and nature. Given that freshwater-dependent species are declining at a faster rate than marine and terrestrial species, and the reliance and use of freshwater ecosystems by people living around such areas, approaches to protect them must balance the needs of people and nature and accommodate these complexities.

Keywords: protection; freshwater; biodiversity; ecosystem services; communities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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