Farming, Dams and Agricultural Runoff Top Threats to Freshwater Species, Global Study Finds

A new global analysis by McGill University researchers identifies farming, dams, and agricultural runoff as the most severe threats to freshwater biodiversity worldwide. The study, which mapped threats across the planet, found that Europe and Northwest Africa are the hardest-hit regions, where human activities have most degraded rivers, lakes, and wetlands. These findings highlight how food production and water management practices are driving declines in fish, amphibians, and other aquatic life. The research underscores the urgent need for sustainable agriculture and river management to protect critical freshwater ecosystems. Without action, many freshwater species face heightened extinction risk.