Overview

• A comprehensive study published in *Nature* assessed over 23,000 freshwater species, finding 24% are threatened with extinction.
• Freshwater ecosystems, which cover less than 1% of Earth's surface, support 10% of all known species but are disproportionately affected by human activities.
• Major threats include pollution, dams, water abstraction, agriculture, invasive species, and disease, often impacting species in combination.
• Regions like the Western Ghats in India, Lake Victoria in Africa, and Lake Titicaca in South America are identified as biodiversity hotspots under significant threat.
• The study underscores the need for targeted conservation strategies for freshwater species, distinct from those for terrestrial and marine ecosystems.