You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page.
Top Link Bar
Advanced Search
Conservation Planning
Conservation By Design
Business Planning
Action Planning
Setting Priorities
Tools & Data
Partnering
Conservation Practices
Water
Lands
Marine
Climate Change
Cities
Fire & Landscapes
Ecosystem Services
People & Conservation
Conservation By Geography
Africa
Asia Pacific
North America
South America
Conservation Practices
Water
Corporate Water Use
Environmental Flows
Water Infrastructure
Water Quality
Habitat Protection and Restoration
Financial Solutions
Saving Great Rivers
Setting Freshwater Priorities
Freshwater Community-Based Conservation
Leverage to Other Freshwater Programs
Lands
Marine
Climate Change
Cities
Fire & Landscapes
Ecosystem Services
People & Conservation
Conservation Gateway
»
Conservation Practices
»
Water
»
Freshwater Community-Based Conservation
»
Leverage to Other Freshwater Programs
Leverage to Other Freshwater Programs
Page Content
Half of the world's populations live in places at risk of water shortage. One-third of all rivers, lakes and aquifers are being heavily exploited, with at least 75% of water extracted for human use. Colonization and dispossession of land and water access have disproportionately affected indigenous peoples and local communities. We are using case studies to identify best practices for elevating community voices in water scarcity decision-making and scaling equitable wins for people and nature. Report coming in 2021.
Recent studies illustrate the effectiveness of small-scale freshwater
community protected areas
, such as river reserves, for supporting freshwater species as well as improving the sustainability of subsistence fisheries. We are working with teams in Africa and Latin America to explore emerging opportunities for river protection, and to designate and increase the effectiveness of freshwater protected areas.
One of the most significant impacts to freshwater ecosystems and the people who rely on their ecosystem services is the construction of
dams
. We evaluated opportunities for communities to have a voice in energy sector planning and describe a framework for community participation in
this document
.