According to the December 17, 2024, IPBES Nexus Assessment, freshwater biodiversity is declining more quickly than terrestrial biodiversity, primarily due to human activity. This finding highlights the alarming rate at which human activities are degrading freshwater biodiversity. The study, The Interlinkages Among Biodiversity, Water, Food, and Health, emphasized the interconnected and compounding effects of critical “nexus elements,” including biodiversity, water, food, health, and climate change.

Anthropogenic stresses, such as pollution and sedimentation in ecosystems and watershed areas, pose significant threats to freshwater and marine coastal species. Wetlands and inland water bodies—despite covering just 2.6% of the planet’s surface—are among the most impacted ecosystems. These areas play a crucial role in regulating water flow and mitigating the impacts of climate change, yet human activities are degrading freshwater biodiversity in these critical habitats, intensifying ecological and environmental challenges.

As of 2005, 75% of the global population depended on freshwater sourced from forests, which regulate water through plants and soil. However, deforestation has had severe impacts on both the supply and quality of freshwater.

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Threats to Marine Ecosystems and Coral Reefs

Unsustainable fishing practices, global warming, ocean acidification, and pollution from land-based sources are placing increasing pressure on marine ecosystems, particularly coral reefs. The research estimates that nearly one-third of reef-building coral species could face extinction within the next 10 to 50 years.

Coral reefs are vital to nearly one billion people—13% of the world’s population—who live within 100 km of them. Their loss would have far-reaching consequences for these communities, as coral reefs provide food, protection from extreme weather, medicinal resources, tourism, recreation, and livelihoods.

Economic Pressures and Limited Policy Success

The IPBES Nexus research highlights the economic toll of illicit resource extraction activities, including the trafficking of fish, lumber, and wildlife, which is valued at $100 to $300 billion annually. By contrast, global spending on biodiversity conservation amounts to just $200 billion yearly or less than 1% of the world’s GDP.

Despite the existence of numerous regulations and international agreements, economic pressures on water, biodiversity, and other nexus elements remain largely unaddressed. Reports from 2023 indicate that these interconnected systems contribute $58 trillion to global economic activity. However, trends in habitat destruction, pollution, and resource exploitation continue to threaten the fragile balance of these interdependent systems.

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