Freshwater 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.