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1.1. Review scope and definition of the freshwater sector

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6.4. Opportunities

6.4. Opportunities

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.

The freshwater sector is made up of a complex mix of actors working across a scale from individuals to local, regional, and national (Figure 1). The stakeholders differ between the four nations of the UK, exemplified by the supply and regulation of water and sewerage (Figure 2). For the purposes of this review, we considered the freshwater sector to include organisations that have some responsibility for or to freshwater ecosystems (landowners, regulators, water companies, environmental organisations) and organisations that represent large groups of freshwater users (e.g., recreational organisations). Whilst it was recognised that everybody benefits from a healthy freshwater environment, it was not possible to gauge priorities at that level. Increasingly, community groups are taking a prominent role in leading change in freshwater ecosystem protection and so several community groups actively engaged in campaigning were consulted.

Figure 2. Water supply and sewerage across the UK

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