Accelerating environmental flow implementation to bend the curve of global freshwater biodiversity loss

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dc.creatorArthington, A. H.
dc.creatorTickner, D.
dc.creatorMcClain, M. E.
dc.creatorAcreman, M.C.
dc.creatorAnderson, E. P.
dc.creatorBabu, S.
dc.creatorDickens, Chris W. S.
dc.creatorHorne, A. C.
dc.creatorKaushal, N.
dc.creatorMonk, W. A.
dc.creatorO'Brien, G.C.
dc.creatorOlden, J. D.
dc.creatorOpperman, J. J.
dc.creatorOwusu, Afua
dc.creatorPoff, N. L.
dc.creatorRichter, B. D.
dc.creatorSalinas-Rodríguez, S. A.
dc.creatorShamboko Mbale, B.
dc.creatorTharme, R. E.
dc.creatorYarnell, S. M.
dc.date2024-09-01
dc.date2023-07-31T13:50:06Z
dc.date2023-07-31T13:50:06Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T18:32:18Z
dc.descriptionEnvironmental flows (e-flows) aim to mitigate the threat of altered hydrological regimes in river systems and connected waterbodies and are an important component of integrated strategies to address multiple threats to freshwater biodiversity. Expanding and accelerating implementation of e-flows can support river conservation and help to restore the biodiversity and resilience of hydrologically altered and water-stressed rivers and connected freshwater ecosystems. While there have been significant developments in e-flow science, assessment, and societal acceptance, implementation of e-flows within water resource management has been slower than required and geographically uneven. This review explores critical factors that enable successful e-flow implementation and biodiversity outcomes in particular, drawing on 13 case studies and the literature. It presents e-flow implementation as an adaptive management cycle enabled by 10 factors: legislation and governance, financial and human resourcing, stakeholder engagement and co-production of knowledge, collaborative monitoring of ecological and social-economic outcomes, capacity training and research, exploration of trade-offs among water users, removing or retrofitting water infrastructure to facilitate e-flows and connectivity, and adaptation to climate change. Recognising that there may be barriers and limitations to the full and effective enablement of each factor, the authors have identified corresponding options and generalizable recommendations for actions to overcome prominent constraints, drawing on the case studies and wider literature. The urgency of addressing flow-related freshwater biodiversity loss demands collaborative networks to train and empower a new generation of e-flow practitioners equipped with the latest tools and insights to lead adaptive environmental water management globally. Mainstreaming e-flows within conservation planning, integrated water resource management, river restoration strategies, and adaptations to climate change is imperative. The policy drivers and associated funding commitments of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework offer crucial opportunities to achieve the human benefits contributed by e-flows as nature-based solutions, such as flood risk management, floodplain fisheries restoration, and increased river resilience to climate change.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/131338
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/158787
dc.languageen
dc.publisherCanadian Science Publishing
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceArthington, A. H.; Tickner, D.; McClain, M. E.; Acreman, M. C.; Anderson, E. P.; Babu, S.; Dickens, Chris W. S.; Horne, A. C.; Kaushal, N.; Monk, W. A.; O’Brien, G. C.; Olden, J. D.; Opperman, J. J.; Owusu, Afua G.; Poff, N. L.; Richter, B. D.; Salinas-Rodríguez, S. A.; Shamboko Mbale, B.; Tharme, R. E.; Yarnell, S. M. 2024. Accelerating environmental flow implementation to bend the curve of global freshwater biodiversity loss. Environmental Reviews, 32(3):387-413. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2022-0126]
dc.subjectenvironmental flows
dc.subjectfreshwater
dc.subjectbiodiversity
dc.subjectecosystem services
dc.subjectresilience
dc.subjectrivers
dc.subjectwater availability
dc.subjectwater users
dc.subjectstakeholders
dc.subjectclimate change
dc.subjectconstraints
dc.subjectlegislation
dc.subjectregulations
dc.subjectmonitoring
dc.subjectfunding
dc.subjectsocioeconomic aspects
dc.subjectecological factors
dc.subjectinfrastructure
dc.subjecthuman resources
dc.subjectcapacity development
dc.subjecttraining
dc.subjectcase studies
dc.titleAccelerating environmental flow implementation to bend the curve of global freshwater biodiversity loss
dc.typeJournal Article

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Instituto Internacional para el Manejo del Agua (IWMI)