1. Introduction

The climate and nature emergencies, the value of green space in the face of COVID19 and the global importance of the 2020s as a nature-positive decade combine to place considerable focus on the natural environment. There is also growing recognition of the resource importance of nature – for example in the Dasgupta review, the growth of natural capital accounting and expanding interest in nature-based solutions to environmental problems such as flood risk.

Simultaneously, there is significant concern about the state and trajectory of many ecosystems, especially those that provide crucial human benefit alongside their large intrinsic importance to biodiversity. Among these, the rivers, standing waters and wetlands that make up the world’s freshwaters are increasingly recognised as environments that are both hotspots for human use but also for degradation and biodiversity loss. The WWF Living Planet Index shows, for example, that populations of organisms in freshwaters have declined more rapidly over recent decade than in any other ecosystem type. This is corroborated by other long-term data. Forward projections based on human population growth, resource demands and waste disposal also illustrate how pressures on freshwater ecosystem will grow in future.

In the UK, the fortunes of freshwater ecosystems are variable and complex. While some long-term problems have been addressed by effective regulation and management (e.g., acid deposition), some assessment metrics – for example for the Water Framework Directive – reveal that most the UK’s freshwater ecosystems are not in good ecological condition. Well known pressures reflected in these metrics include point and diffuse pollution, physical and flow modification. In addition, new and emerging problems risk impacting freshwaters, either directly (e.g., plastics, pharmaceuticals, invasive non-native species) or through interaction with other pressures (e.g., climate change). Much attention is also focussing on specific issues, such as combined sewer overflows, disrupted connectivity in river environments or direct decline in high profile and/or designated species such as salmonids. All these pressures have ramifications for organisms in and around freshwaters, and for the natural resource values provided by water.

Alongside the above issues, there is an important opportunity to take stock of the perspectives of freshwater ecosystems held by different organisations across the UK. Given manifesto commitments by governments, the actions and advocacy of environmental NGOs, the requirements of water-related business, and the capability of the statutory sector, there is also a need to assess how well equipped we are in the UK to address freshwater problems. Past exercises, for example by the Freshwater Biological Association (2005), have drawn attention to the need for coordinated responses in the face of the challenges posed.

In this regard, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (EFF) has a long history of supporting work to improve the state of the environment in the UK, alongside interests in arts and social change. A new strategy, published in September 2020, saw EFF build on their commitment to the environment under Our Natural World. One of the three Impact Goals under this priority that EFF will contribute to by 2030, is clean and healthy freshwater. EFF commissioned Cardiff University Water Research Institute to investigate how the capacity and capability of the freshwater sector might be best supported.