Dakar, Senegal / Cape Town, South Africa – July 10, 2025
A startling new report reveals that 25% of Africa’s freshwater species are threatened with extinction, underscoring the rapid degradation of rivers, lakes, and wetlands across the continent.
The findings were released this week by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the lead-up to the United Nations Global Wetlands Summit, set to begin next month in Senegal.
The report assessed over 7,000 species found in freshwater ecosystems — including fish, mollusks, amphibians, and aquatic plants — and found that pollution, overfishing, dam construction, water diversion, and climate change are combining to drive many to the brink.
“Freshwater biodiversity is crashing, often silently,” said Dr. Aïssatou Ndiaye, an aquatic ecologist based in Dakar. “Entire species could disappear before we even record them.”
Particularly alarming are the trends in southern Africa. Several endemic species in South African river systems, such as the Clanwilliam yellowfish and Barberton barb, are on the IUCN Red List and face imminent threats from sedimentation, water extraction, and invasive species.
Wetland degradation is another major factor. Across Africa, wetlands are being drained or polluted at a rapid pace — often for urban expansion, mining, or agriculture — leading to loss of critical spawning and feeding habitats.
The report warns that the collapse of freshwater ecosystems would have cascading effects, jeopardizing food security, clean water access, and rural livelihoods for millions.
“We’re not just losing fish — we’re losing cultural traditions, protein sources, and ecological balance,” said Nomfundo Mahlangu, a South African freshwater researcher.
The IUCN calls for urgent action, including:
Stronger legal protections for freshwater ecosystems
Environmental flow requirements in rivers and dams
Pollution control enforcement
Expansion of community-based conservation programs
Ahead of the UN summit, African delegates are expected to push for increased funding for wetlands restoration, river health monitoring, and species protection initiatives.
Activists are urging governments not to delay. “We are fast approaching an ecological tipping point,” warned Dr. Ndiaye. “And in freshwater systems, recovery is painfully slow.”
With one-quarter of freshwater life on the line, the message from scientists is clear: protect rivers and wetlands now — or risk irreversible collapse.