Water is essential for all life on Earth, and its conservation is necessary for protecting biodiversity and sustaining ecosystems. Freshwater ecosystems, including rivers, lakes, wetlands, and streams are essential as they serve as a home for countless unique plant and animal species. Freshwater ecosystems provide a source for clean drinking water through filtering out pollutants, and they manage water levels by storing and releasing water when necessary, which reduces the harmful impacts caused by floods and droughts.
Freshwater habitats make up a small portion of the world’s surface, yet they provide a home for over 126,000 known animal species. Freshwater ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots as they meet the needs of many species of animals. For instance, wetlands serve as breeding grounds for amphibians and birds, while rivers and streams support multiple fish populations. Despite their importance, freshwater ecosystems are threatened by pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction.
Runoff of sewage, fertilizer, and other pollutants into bodies of freshwater cause bacteria to develop, harvesting overgrowth of plant life that take up oxygen necessary for fish and other organisms to survive. The release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere from factories and farms is trapping heat energy in our environment, causing temperatures to rise. The increase in temperatures fuels the development of harmful algae and other microbes, which not only contaminates the freshwater but all the life within it. The need to build dams is coming at the cost of thousands of organisms' lives due to habitats being demolished in the making of these dams. In the last forty years, 80% of freshwater species have been lost to habitat destruction.
Despite the constant threats that freshwater ecosystems face, every individual can play a role in conserving water to protect the health of our environment and its residents. Some easy activities that anyone can participate in at home include the following:
fixing any leakage in appliances
using technology that minimizes water usage such as faucet aerators and low flow shower heads
taking shorter showers
turning off the tap when not in use
avoiding pesticides
properly disposing harmful waste.
filling up space in septum tanks with other materials like bottles so that less water is available to be used up when flushing
using a dish scraper to get rid of excess food instead of using unnecessary water to clean it
All these activities prevent unnecessary water wastage and promote the healthy maintenance of our water supply. Students can take action in their schools as well through inspiring their peers to take part in water conserving initiatives. From stopping use of single-use plastic bottles to participating in awareness campaigns, students can engage in activities that protect freshwater ecosystems and the rich biodiversity that they hold. Students can put in their time into gaining a deeper understanding of the significance of water conservation and biodiversity and participate in its preservation at their home and school.
All in all, we must identify the threats to our freshwater ecosystems as a real issue and work together for a change. The threats are costing us our necessity of clean drinking water and harming hundreds of thousands of species of organisms.
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