DID YOU KNOW?

- 70% of the Earth is covered by water yet only 2.5% of the world's water is fresh water, while 97.5% is oceans.
- To ensure our basic needs, we all need 20 to 50 litres of clean water each and every day.
- Approximately 70% of all available water is used for irrigation.

IUCN's work on freshwater conservation

IUCN Deputy Director General Bill Jackson explains what IUCN is doing to make sure that there's enough water in the world both for nature and for people.

A river chief's story

The family of Sarkin Kogi once inhabited the land that now lies covered by two billion cubic metres of water behind the 48 metre-high Tiga Dam in Nigeria.

Managing the Tacana Volcano Watershed in Guatemala

Overexploitation of natural resources, high population density, settlements and agriculture combined with extreme weather events are increasingly undermining the region's food and water security.

A voice for all

Samoa is blessed with fertile soils and abundant nature but freshwater resources are getting scarce.

Dealing with the impacts of climate change on water in Asia

Water management in Asia is often complicated by the fact that many rivers cut across many different countries.

Keeping the giant catfish in Thailand's Mekong River

There were roast chickens and rice, pig’s heads and beer – all borne in a solemn procession as offerings to an unlikely recipient, the Mekong giant catfish.

 
> View photos

Find out how much you know about freshwater conservation.
> Test your knowledge

Negotiate

Negotiate workable agreements about how to best use, manage and care for water resources.
> Learn more

Water for life

An overview of IUCN Water programme work.
> Download brochure

World Water Week

5 -11 September, Stockholm, Sweden.
> Learn more

Rocio Córdoba

Water is the blood of our so-called blue planet.
> Read more

African freshwater species threatened

The livelihoods of millions of people are at risk.
> Learn more

IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) © 2010

IUCN helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. It supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice.

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Photo credits © : Banner: J Tamelander/IUCN; Expert report: Dr. Mark Smith/IUCN; Averting the next credit crunch: IUCN WAME; Our scientists : Héctor Villalobos; A river chief: Jamie Workman; Managing Tacana watershed: UICN Mesoamérica; A voice for all: Claire Warmenbol; Dealing with the impacts: Ganesh Pangare; Keeping the giant catfish: IUCN Water Programme; Quiz: Taco Anema; African freshwater species: Pr. Gearge F. Turner; Photo gallery: Hajnalka Kovacs.