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Biodiversity of Freshwater Ecosystems: status, trends, pressures and conservation priorities

Freshwater in the form of rivers, lakes, groundwater and wetlands offers us a remarkably diverse array of natural functions and ecosystem services. However, there is clear and growing scientific evidence that we are on the verge of a major freshwater biodiversity crisis: in the 30 years between 1970 and 2000, populations of more than 300 freshwater species have declined by ~55 percent while those of terrestrial and marine systems each declined by ~32 percent.

Climate Change Adaptation Planning in Timor Leste

Timor Leste is one of six nations within the Coral Triangle (CT), a region located along the equator at the confluence of the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Despite an extensive coastline the country has made scarce use of its living marine resources, and annual fish consumption is less than 4 kg per head (compared to a global average of 17 kg per head). Neglect of the marine economy and ineffective governance are sapping the potential of a sector that could contribute significantly to the national economy and the health and welfare of the population.
 

Climate Change Adaptation in the Lake Chilwa Basin

Malawi has experienced a number of adverse climatic events in recent years. Lake Chilwa, a major lake in the country and an important resource has dried up nine times in the 20th Century due to low rainfall in the basin. and it is predicted that events of this nature will become more common with increased climate variability. Some studies suggest that temperatures in the Lake Chilwa Basin will increase by up to five degrees Celsius by 2075.
 

Moving Towards an Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management Approach

Biomass levels of coastal fish stocks in parts of the Philippines are now only 10-30% of the levels of the late 1940’s. In addition, 25-30% of total catch is lost due to improper handling, inadequate storage and inefficient marketing. This depletion in biomass has been caused by the lack of effective fishing controls, rapid increase in coastal population, insufficient government support for sustainable fisheries resources management programs, deteriorating marine habitats and worsening marine pollution.
 

Community-Based Fisheries Management in Haor Basin Contributing to Poverty Eradication in Bangladesh

Sunamganj, a district in north-eastern Bangladesh, is characterized by beels, permanent water bodies that are located in the low-lying floodplains of the Haor Basin. To alleviate the poverty of 90,000 fisher people living around these rich ecosystems, the Sunamganj Community-Based Resources Management Project (SCBRMP) has a fisheries component that is helping them to gain better access to the beels and also improve their beel resource development and management skills.
 

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