Freshwater ecosystems, which include rivers, lakes, wetlands, and streams, are critical to the functioning of our planet. They provide vital resources for humans, support diverse wildlife, and help regulate local climates. However, these ecosystems are not only under threat; they are experiencing an unprecedented crisis.

In recent decades, the world has witnessed an alarming rate of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. From the disappearing rainforests of the Amazon to the bleaching coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef, the signs of ecological collapse are becoming impossible to ignore.