Atlas

Africa’s Lakes: Atlas of Our Changing Environment (UNEP, 2006). Learn more.

Capacity development

The Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Project has launched the Living Lakes Academy to build a global youth community of wetland managers and conservationists. Learn more. 

GEMS/Water Capacity Development (UNEP). Learn more.

Integrated Lake Basin Management Training Materials. Learn more.

Data and information systems 

GEMStat Water Quality Dashboard (UNEP) . Learn more.

Global Freshwater Quality Database GEMStat (UNEP). Learn more. 

Freshwater Ecosystems Explorer (UNEP). Learn more.

Cascade (UNEP-DHI). Learn more. 

Flood and Drought portal (UNEP-DHI). Learn more. 

Global Lakes and Wetlands Database (WWF). Learn more.

Environment monitoring for freshwater

Global Environment Monitoring System for Fresh Water (GEMS-Water). Learn more. 

Nature-based solutions 

How Nature Can Help Address Water-related Challenges - Freshwater Ecosystems Technical Brief (UNEP-DHI, includes case studies from Afghanistan, Albania, El Salvador, Haiti, Kenya, Morocco and Tanzania) . Learn more.

Water Funds to Institutionalize Nature-based Solutions in Ecuador - Case Study (UNEP, 2020).  Learn more.

Nature-based Solutions to Emerging Water Management Challenges in the Asia-Pacific Region (UNEP/Climate Technology Centre & Network, 2022, includes case studies).  Learn more.

Blending Water Management and Climate Adaptation Approaches (UNEP/UNEP-DHI, 2022).  Learn more.

A review on constructed wetlands-based removal of pharmaceutical contaminants derived from non-point source pollution (Science Direct) .  Learn more.

Publications

Climate change amplifies the risk of potentially toxigenic cyanobacteria (Global Change Biology, July 2023). Learn more.

A science and management partnership to restore coregonine diversity to the Laurentian Great Lakes (USGS, 31 May 2023). Learn more. 

Is it a new day for freshwater biodiversity? Reflections on outcomes of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. "COP15 recognized for the first-time ‘inland waters’ as a distinct realm in terms of setting targets and a process for monitoring and conserving them and their biodiversity". (Plos.org). Learn more.

Satellites reveal widespread decline in global lake water storage (Science). Learn more.

Sustainable Lake Management and the Role of Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM). Learn more.

Mainstreaming lakes and wetlands into the Global Water Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (UNEP/ILEC, 2021). Learn more.

Disruption of ecological networks in lakes by climate change and nutrient fluctuations. Learn more.

International Lake Environment Committee Foundation publications. Learn more. 

Lakes and Reservoirs Science, Policy and Management for Sustainable Use. Learn more. 

Embedding Lakes into the Global Sustainability Agenda (WWQA). Learn more.

Risk analysis

WWF Risk Filter Suite (water and biodiversity risk filters “enable companies and investors to assess and respond to nature-related risks to strengthen resilience”).  Learn more.

Status reports

Our freshwater 2023: New Zealand’s environmental reporting series. Learn more.

Transboundary Lakes and Reservoirs: Status and Future Trends (UNEP/GEF/ILEC 2016). Learn more.

Wetlands and people at risk (IUCN, 2022) . Learn more.

Training courses

Ecosystem Restoration course. Learn more. 

New online training course: nature-based infrastructure for climate adaptation and sustainable development. Learn more. 

NASA - ARSET - Monitoring Water Quality of Inland Lakes using Remote Sensing. Learn more. 

Hydrography Videos. Learn more. 

UNEP priorities 

UNEP Freshwater Strategic Priorities, 2022-2025.  Learn more.

UNEP projects 

Biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management and enhanced water security in Lake Tanzania basin (a UNEP-GEF project currently under development).  Learn more.

More tools and resources 

The African Great Lakes (ACARE). Learn more.

What Are 'Endorheic Lakes' and How Are They Formed? - AZ Animals. Learn more. 

The Living Lakes Network is an international partnership of 130 members working in more than 60 countries to protect and restore the lakes and wetlands of the world. Learn more.

Lake Balkhash Preservation Plan (2006). Learn more. 

New model for preventing growing water and social conflicts and climate risks in Central Asia. Learn More.

Global Survey of Lake Restoration in Practice by The World Water Quality Alliance (WWQA). Complete the survey.