EcosystemResearch
Aquatic ecosystem conservation, biodiversity, and environmental impact assessment
Ecosystem - Nature's Balance
Healthy aquatic ecosystems provide essential services including clean water supply, flood regulation, and climate regulation. Harmonizing ecosystem conservation with water management is key to sustainable development.
- Operating 30+ aquatic ecosystem monitoring sites
- Accumulated data on 500+ freshwater species
- Managing 12+ core conservation areas
- Conducting 8+ ecosystem restoration projects
Core Research Topics
Aquatic Ecosystem Conservation
Assessing the health of aquatic ecosystems in rivers, lakes, and wetlands, and researching restoration and conservation measures for damaged ecosystems.
Biodiversity
Building freshwater biodiversity monitoring systems and researching ecosystem health maintenance through endangered species protection and invasive species management.
Wetland Management
Evaluating the ecological value of wetlands and researching sustainable management of ecosystem services including carbon storage, flood control, and water purification.
Key Challenges
Habitat Destruction
Aquatic ecosystem habitats are rapidly declining due to urbanization, dam construction, and agricultural expansion. About 35% of global wetlands have disappeared in the last 50 years.
Water Quality Degradation
Water quality deterioration from industrial wastewater, agricultural runoff, and microplastics poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity.
Climate Change Impact
Climate change is accelerating aquatic ecosystem disruption through rising water temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increasing extreme weather events.
Success Stories
Four Rivers Ecosystem Restoration
Integrated restoration project for river naturalness recovery and aquatic ecosystem health improvement
Murray-Darling Basin Management
Achieving balance between aquatic ecosystems and agricultural water through integrated basin management
Tonle Sap Wetland Conservation
Wetland ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake
Our Research Approach
Ecological Survey
Aquatic ecosystem field surveys, biodiversity monitoring, and habitat health assessment
Impact Analysis
Analyzing human activity impacts on aquatic ecosystems and vulnerability assessment
Restoration Trials
Experimental approaches for damaged ecosystem restoration and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) application
Policy Integration
Developing guidelines for integrating ecosystem service values into water management policies
Ecosystem Status
Biodiversity Status
Freshwater species declined 83% since 1970
Ecosystem Service Value
Wetland ecosystem services worth trillions annually
Conservation Status
Only 17% of freshwater ecosystems protected
Ecosystems are nature's infrastructure that provides humanity with clean water, clean air, and food. Conserving aquatic ecosystems is the most fundamental approach to water security, and Nature-based Solutions are a core strategy for climate change adaptation.
UNESCO i-WSSM Research Team
Ecosystem-Water Nexus Research
How Does Ecosystem Connect to Other NEXUS Elements?
Ecosystems are the foundation of water, energy, and food systems, and sustainable resource use is impossible without healthy ecosystems.
Recommended Resources
Aquatic Ecosystem Health Assessment
Research ReportWetland Conservation & Management Guide
Technical ReportFreshwater Biodiversity Monitoring
AnalysisNature-based Solutions (NbS) Cases
Case StudyJoin Our NEXUS Research
UNESCO i-WSSM is building a sustainable future through Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem nexus research.