Freshwater biodiversity, from fish to frogs and microbes to macrophytes, provides a vast array of services to people. Mounting concerns focus on the accelerating pace of biodiversity loss and declining ecological function within freshwater ecosystems that continue to threaten these natural benefits. Here, we catalog nine fundamental ecosystem services that the biotic components of indigenous freshwater biodiversity provide to people, organized into three categories: material (food; health and genetic resources; material goods), non‐material (culture; education and science; recreation), and regulating (catchment integrity; climate regulation; water purification and nutrient cycling). If freshwater biodiversity is protected, conserved, and restored in an integrated manner, as well as more broadly appreciated by humanity, it will continue to contribute to human well‐being and our sustainable future via this wide range of services and associated nature‐based solutions to our sustainable future.This article is categorized under: Human Water > Value of Water Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change

The 2018 Living Planet Index (LPI) ([ 1 ][1]) shows that populations of freshwater species have declined by an average of 83% since 1970, a far steeper drop than for terrestrial or marine species. Extinction rates for freshwater species are also exceptionally high ([ 2 ][2]). For example, freshwater fish extinction rates in the United States and Europe have been estimated to be more than 100 times their natural rates ([ 3 ][3]). Meanwhile, wetland loss is three times as high as forest loss ([ 4 ][4]). In 2006, the protection of freshwater biodiversity was noted as “the ultimate conservation challenge,” requiring “immediate action” ([ 5 ][5]). The LPI underscores that actions taken since have been grossly inadequate. Management of freshwater resources often focuses on human water security rather than natural ecosystem integrity ([ 6 ][6]). We urgently need effective policy solutions that can achieve both sets of objectives. Substantial advances have been made in understanding freshwater biodiversity distributions, trends, and patterns ([ 7 ][7], [ 8 ][8]). Now, scientists must translate this science into recommendations for action for practitioners and policy-makers. Many of the Convention on Biological Diversity's Aichi targets will not be met by 2020 ([ 9 ][9], [ 10 ][10]). The post-2020 revision of the Aichi targets should better address freshwater biodiversity. Because freshwater biodiversity conservation must operate in partnership with the needs for socio-economic development under a changing climate, revised Aichi targets should correspond to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The conservation community, as well as governments and international organizations that are shaping the broader post-2020 agenda for biodiversity and sustainable development, need to ensure that there is dedicated space in emerging policy frameworks to address the steep decline of freshwater species. 1. [↵][11]World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), “Living Planet Report—2018: Aiming Higher” (WWF, 2018). 2. [↵][12]1. A. J. Reid et al ., Biol. Rev., 10.1111/brv.12480 (2018). 3. [↵][13]1. M.S. Dias et al ., Ecol. Indic. 79, 37 (2017). [OpenUrl][14] 4. [↵][15]Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, “Global wetland outlook: State of the world's wetlands and their services to people” (Ramsar Convention Secretariat, 2018). 5. [↵][16]1. D. Dudgeon et al ., Biol. Rev. Camb. Philos. Soc. 81, 163 (2006). [OpenUrl][17][CrossRef][18][PubMed][19] 6. [↵][20]1. C. J. Vörösmarty et al ., Ecohydrology and Hydrobiology, 10.1016/j.ecohyd.2018.07.004 (2018). 7. [↵][21]1. B. Collen et al ., Glob. Ecol. Biogeogr. 23, 40 (2014). [OpenUrl][22] 8. [↵][23]1. P. B. McIntyre et al ., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 113, 12880 (2016). [OpenUrl][24][Abstract/FREE Full Text][25] 9. [↵][26]1. G. M. Mace et al ., Nat. Sustain. 1, 448 (2018). [OpenUrl][27] 10. [↵][28]1. P. W. Leadley et al ., “Progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets: An assessment of biodiversity trends, policy scenarios and key actions” (Technical Series 78, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2014). [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-2 [3]: #ref-3 [4]: #ref-4 [5]: #ref-5 [6]: #ref-6 [7]: #ref-7 [8]: #ref-8 [9]: #ref-9 [10]: #ref-10 [11]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [12]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text" [13]: #xref-ref-3-1 "View reference 3 in text" [14]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DEcol.%2BIndic.%26rft.volume%253D79%26rft.spage%253D37%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [15]: #xref-ref-4-1 "View reference 4 in text" [16]: #xref-ref-5-1 "View reference 5 in text" [17]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBiological%2BReviews%2B%2528Cambridge%253B%2BPrint%2529%26rft.stitle%253DBiological%2BReviews%2B%2528Cambridge%253B%2BPrint%2529%26rft.aulast%253DDudgeon%26rft.auinit1%253DD.%26rft.volume%253D81%26rft.issue%253D2%26rft.spage%253D163%26rft.epage%253D182%26rft.atitle%253DFreshwater%2Bbiodiversity%253A%2Bimportance%252C%2Bthreats%252C%2Bstatus%2Band%2Bconservation%2Bchallenges.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1017%252FS1464793105006950%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F16336747%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [18]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1017/S1464793105006950&link_type=DOI [19]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=16336747&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fsci%2F362%2F6421%2F1369.1.atom [20]: #xref-ref-6-1 "View reference 6 in text" [21]: #xref-ref-7-1 "View reference 7 in text" [22]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DGlob.%2BEcol.%2BBiogeogr.%26rft.volume%253D23%26rft.spage%253D40%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [23]: #xref-ref-8-1 "View reference 8 in text" [24]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DProc.%2BNatl.%2BAcad.%2BSci.%2BU.S.A.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1073%252Fpnas.1521540113%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F27791055%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [25]: /lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiQUJTVCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6NDoicG5hcyI7czo1OiJyZXNpZCI7czoxMjoiMTEzLzQ1LzEyODgwIjtzOjQ6ImF0b20iO3M6MjU6Ii9zY2kvMzYyLzY0MjEvMTM2OS4xLmF0b20iO31zOjg6ImZyYWdtZW50IjtzOjA6IiI7fQ== [26]: #xref-ref-9-1 "View reference 9 in...