@article{3b6efe27203c49e59a7f44c363e75450,
title = "Twenty-five essential research questions to inform the protection and restoration of freshwater biodiversity",
abstract = "Freshwater biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate. Freshwater conservationists and environmental managers have enough evidence to demonstrate that action must not be delayed but have insufficient evidence to identify those actions that will be most effective in reversing the current trend. Here, the focus is on identifying essential research topics that, if addressed, will contribute directly to restoring freshwater biodiversity through supporting {\textquoteleft}bending the curve{\textquoteright} actions (i.e. those actions leading to the recovery of freshwater biodiversity, not simply deceleration of the current downward trend). The global freshwater research and management community was asked to identify unanswered research questions that could address knowledge gaps and barriers associated with {\textquoteleft}bending the curve{\textquoteright} actions. The resulting list was refined into six themes and 25 questions. Although context-dependent and potentially limited in global reach, six overarching themes were identified: (i) learning from successes and failures; (ii) improving current practices; (iii) balancing resource needs; (iv) rethinking built environments; (v) reforming policy and investments; and (vi) enabling transformative change. Bold, efficient, science-based actions are necessary to reverse biodiversity loss. We believe that conservation actions will be most effective when supported by sound evidence, and that research and action must complement one another. These questions are intended to guide global freshwater researchers and conservation practitioners, identify key projects and signal research needs to funders and governments. Our questions can act as springboards for multidisciplinary and multisectoral collaborations that will improve the management and restoration of freshwater biodiversity.",
keywords = "freshwater conservation, horizon scanning, priority setting, research questions, {\textquoteleft}bending the curve{\textquoteright}",
author = "Meagan Harper and Mejbel, {Hebah S.} and Dylan Longert and Robin Abell and Beard, {T. Douglas} and Bennett, {Joseph R.} and Carlson, {Stephanie M.} and William Darwall and Anthony Dell and Sami Domisch and David Dudgeon and J{\"o}rg Freyhof and Ian Harrison and Hughes, {Kathy A.} and J{\"a}hnig, {Sonja C.} and Jeschke, {Jonathan M.} and Richard Lansdown and Mark Lintermans and Lynch, {Abigail J.} and Meredith, {Helen M.R.} and Sanjay Molur and Olden, {Julian D.} and Ormerod, {Steve J.} and Harmony Patricio and Reid, {Andrea J.} and Astrid Schmidt-Kloiber and Michele Thieme and David Tickner and Eren Turak and Weyl, {Olaf L.F.} and Cooke, {Steven J.}",
note = "Funding Information: This effort was inspired by the long‐term goal of the Alliance for Freshwater Life ( https://allianceforfreshwaterlife.org ) to achieve a better understanding of freshwater biodiversity decline and developing solutions to reverse biodiversity loss (Darwall et al., 2018 ). The authors are grateful for the engagement of members of The Alliance for Freshwater Life, for helpful comments from Candace M. Hansen‐Hendrikx on the original essential questions and for comments from two anonymous reviewers that greatly improved this manuscript. We also thank the freshwater conservation community for their involvement in this project. Funding was provided by National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. This is a product of the Canadian Centre for Evidence‐Based Conservation. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government. We dedicate this paper to friend, colleague and co‐author Dr Olaf Weyl, who passed away while this paper was in review. Olaf was a champion for freshwater biodiversity and a founding member of the Alliance for Freshwater Life. We commit to continuing the work of Olaf with the same passion, enthusiasm and excellence that Olaf brought to everything he did. Funding Information: This effort was inspired by the long-term goal of the Alliance for Freshwater Life (https://allianceforfreshwaterlife.org) to achieve a better understanding of freshwater biodiversity decline and developing solutions to reverse biodiversity loss (Darwall et al.,?2018). The authors are grateful for the engagement of members of The Alliance for Freshwater Life, for helpful comments from Candace M. Hansen-Hendrikx on the original essential questions and for comments from two anonymous reviewers that greatly improved this manuscript. We also thank the freshwater conservation community for their involvement in this project. Funding was provided by National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. This is a product of the Canadian Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government. We dedicate this paper to friend, colleague and co-author Dr Olaf Weyl, who passed away while this paper was in review. Olaf was a champion for freshwater biodiversity and a founding member of the Alliance for Freshwater Life. We commit to continuing the work of Olaf with the same passion, enthusiasm and excellence that Olaf brought to everything he did. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.",
year = "2021",
month = sep,
doi = "10.1002/aqc.3634",
language = "English",
volume = "31",
pages = "2632--2653",
journal = "Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems",
issn = "1052-7613",
publisher = "John Wiley & Sons",
number = "9",
}
