Invest in nature, ensure water resilience

World Water Week, held in Stockholm, Sweden, from 16 to 22 August, gathers more than 2500 experts to help resolve the growing water crisis. Less than one percent of the world's fresh water is readily accessible for direct human use.

With climate change predicted to have severe impacts on the water cycle, global water challenges will become increasingly acute.

Investing in nature is a cost-effective and sustainable solution to ensure water resilience. Water storage infrastructure ensures millions of city dwellers can have access to water and is fundamental for global food security. Nature is part of the critical water infrastructure of every nation. This infrastructure includes wetlands, lakes and rivers, and the watersheds that supply them.

Natural infrastructure restoration along with reforming water governance is critical, to support coordinated action by governments and communities that meets the needs of both people and nature. In Nigeria, where IUCN works in the Lake Chad Basin, this combination led to a 90 per cent reduction in water conflicts reaching the local courts. Good water governance and healthy natural infrastructure is the basis for climate and water resilience.

IUCN urges governments to do more to protect the natural environment and make better use of the services nature offers for development and human security. Healthy rivers and wetlands deliver services for people, such as clean drinking water, food security, energy and sustainable livelihoods.