This review aims to identify: •
• •
The current understanding of the threats and opportunities facing freshwater ecosystems in the UK, how those issues differ between the four countries, and the extent to which there is consensus on what the priorities should be, Examples of actions or mechanisms that have been successful in addressing these needs, The threats and challenges that have proved harder to address.
Whilst one of the drivers was for EFF to better understand how to invest resources to achieve the greatest change, the review should also be useful to individuals and organisations working on UK freshwater ecosystems.
1.1.
Review scope and definition of the freshwater sector
The focus of this review was on UK freshwater, accepting that several Irish river catchments span the border. The impact that policy changes made in the UK might have on freshwaters overseas and any learning from freshwater management overseas that could inform practice in the UK was also considered if raised by stakeholders. Freshwaters were considered to include all types of freshwater water bodies, streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. This includes small water bodies and temporary water bodies. The freshwater environment extends into the wider landscape, and activities in the wider catchment impact water bodies.
Figure 1. Stakeholders in the freshwater sector across scales. Local (orange) and national (blue) level organisations were consulted for this review.
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