In the summer of 2026, rivers levels fell to record-lows and their ecosystems suffered severe stress. This is a reminder that water resources and biodiversity are interdependent: there can be no water security without healthy freshwater ecosystems that purify water, regulate flows, and buffer floods and droughts. A study by Senckenberg and KfW Research shows that rapid economic growth and rising prosperity since 1950 have been accompanied by significant – and partly irreversible – impacts on freshwater resources and ecosystems. Freshwater biodiversity is declining faster than in any other biome, and large wetland areas have been lost or degraded. Human water use – especially irrigated agriculture – and climate change have already substantially reduced global freshwater reserves. This poses systemic risks to economies and human well-being. The study proposes evidence-based priorities to reduce environmental pressures and to better align the economy with the ecological limits of the water cycle.

Freshwater Resources and Biodiversity: From Competition to Synergy(PDF, 12 MB, accessible)

Freshwater Resources and Biodiversity – Summary(PDF, 1 MB, accessible)