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We are pleased to invite you to the ANU Institute for Water Futures' webinar: Is freshwater biodiversity all that special? We will be joined by conservationist Professor Peter Bridgewater for a discussion on how we can promote stewardship of freshwater biodiversity, and in turn, support all terrestrial biodiversity. 

About the topic 

Over the last decade, increasing numbers of papers, blogs and advocacy campaigns correctly observe that freshwater biodiversity (in its hierarchical construct) is declining rapidly. But there are also authors expressing the same views for other ecosystems. The result is this special pleading, separating freshwater biodiversity from the rest of terrestrial biodiversity, produces a distorted picture of the research and actions needed to develop informed policy and decision-making, and thus improved stewardship of freshwaters. Key to effective and informed stewardship of freshwater biodiversity is promoting a research focus through the integrated lens of landscape connectivity and ecohydrology. Co-designing such integrated research that recognises the four-dimensional nature of freshwater ecosystems with early input from policymakers, decision-takers and holders of indigenous and local knowledge can result in a reversal of the decline seen in freshwater biodiversity. And in turn, better support for all “terrestrial” biodiversity.

About the speaker

Prof Peter Bridgewater is an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Visiting Fellow at ANU Centre for Heritage and Museum Studies, Research Fellow at Sheffield Hallam Advanced Wellness Research Centre  and Visiting Professor at Beijing Forestry University. He was the non-executive Chair of the UK-Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the  Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and Secretary of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme.  He has chaired several Intergovernmental Committees, including the International Whaling Commission, and represented Australia at most of the Biodiversity-related conventions and the IPBES.