Home » Resource Database Educational video Investing with Nature: Deep dive on nature-based solutions in freshwater ecosystems Authoring Organisation UNEP FI Publish Date June 2023 About this Educational videoFreshwater is not only indispensable for wildlife, people and planet, it is also the habit of a wide variety of fish, plant and crustacean species. The freshwater ecosystem comprises of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, springs, bogs and wetlands, and provides transport routes, hydropower, irrigation and drinking water, as well as a wide range of other ecosystem services such as recreation, landscape and biodiversity. Moreover, it also helps prevent erosion, dispose of waste and provides natural protection from flooding. However, threats such as pollution, climate change, water-related diseases as well as harmful human activities are putting the freshwater ecosystem in danger, therefore posing significant risks to animals, the environment, humans and the economy. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can be a cost-effective method to optimize the economic potential of the ecosystem, while enhancing its services and preserving biodiversity. For example, in the case of freshwater ecosystems, NbS can help build resilience against floods, combat climate change and support people’s health via clean water. The third deep dive session of our new “Investing in Nature: Exploring Investment Opportunities Across Ecosystems” webinar series – funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH – will explain the importance of water in nature and practical ways to invest in freshwater as a nature-based solution. The panel discussion will focus on the experiences and perspectives of private and civil society actors investing in freshwater-related nature-based solutions. About this educational video (Investing with Nature: Deep dive on nature-based solutions in freshwater ecosystems)(This link will take you to an external website) Related resources Investing with Nature: An Introduction to Nature-based Solutions The regeneration and sustainable management of our planet’s ecosystems offer significant opportunities for the financial sector and the society, generating benefits in terms of carbon sequestration, income generation, disaster risk reduction, and increased biodiversity. At the same time, as we... Investing with Nature: Deep dive on nature-based solutions in farmlands Increases in population, wealth and urbanization around the world has resulted in an increase in food demand. Nowadays, more than half of the earth’s habitable lands are used for agricultural production and about 70% of the planet’s accessible freshwater withdrawals are used for agricultural... Investing with Nature: Deep dive on nature-based solutions in forests Nature-based solutions such as forest landscape restoration can reverse the effects of deforestation and degradation, and regain the ecological, social, climatic and economic benefits of forests. Not only can this make a significant contribution to climate commitments, it also positively impacts... Investing with Nature: Deep dive on nature-based solutions in oceans & coastal ecosystems In light of the agreement of the historic UN High Seas Treaty earlier last month to protect marine biodiversity in international waters, conservation and sustainable use of resources in oceans and coastal ecosystems is gaining attention. Nature-based solutions in this ecosystem have huge... Investing with Nature: Deep dive on nature-based solutions in urban areas According to the World Bank, some 56% of the world’s population – 4.4 billion inhabitants – currently live in cities. As urbanization grows at an unprecedented rate, this number is expected to more than double, with nearly 7 out of 10 people living in cities by 2050. With 80% of global GDP... Investing with Nature: Looking forward – Scaling investments in nature-based solutions Nature-based solutions (NbS) are actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously benefiting people and nature. While the use of NbS is specifically being called for in targets 8 and 11...