Biodiversity

Small water bodies such as ponds are, both globally and in Europe, the most numerous fresh waters, collectively dominating both water area (30-50% of standing water worldwide) and making key contributions to aquatic biodiversity (e.g. supporting 70% of the freshwater species pool in European landscapes). Ponds (small standing waters varying in size from 1 m2 to about 2-5 ha in area that may be permanent or seasonal, man-made or naturally created) are crucial for biodiversity conservation, supporting a larger proportion of rare, endemic and threatened freshwater species, and are key elements of blue landscape connectivity. In addition, ponds deliver multiple ecosystem services and Nature's Contributions to People, including carbon storage and climate regulation, water provision, flood control, groundwater recharge, pollution amelioration, recreation and tourism. Given their abundance and importance for biodiversity and ES, and their potential influence on global carbon dynamics ponds have the potential to play a significant role in mitigating and adapting to climate change (CC).Read more