Mapping global freshwater ecosystems to guide national restoration targets and nature-based solutions
Hashemi et al. (2026)
Freshwater ecosystems are essential for water security, biodiversity, flood mitigation, and climate resilience, yet they are often overlooked in national climate and restoration planning. One major challenge has been the lack of a consistent, spatially explicit framework for identifying where conservation and restoration efforts should be prioritized.
Using 30-meter global land cover data, hydrologic networks, and floodplain models, Hashemi et al. (2026) developed the first high-resolution global map of High-Value Freshwater Ecosystems (HVFEs). The framework identifies rivers, wetlands, headwaters, riparian corridors, and floodplains that provide critical hydrologic and ecological functions and can help countries establish measurable restoration targets aligned with climate adaptation and mitigation goals.
Their findings show that:
- The global HVFE map identifies approximately 51 million km2 of freshwater ecosystems that are important for water security, flood regulation, and biodiversity conservation.
- The framework provides countries with a practical way to identify and prioritize freshwater restoration and protection strategies, helping integrate these ecosystems into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and the Freshwater Challenge.