The Mekong River in Laos

Freshwater Frontlines

Independent journalism on the global freshwater crisis — reporting from the rivers, lakes, and wetlands that sustain life on Earth

The Freshwater Crisis
Background
The Freshwater Crisis
Freshwater ecosystems are the most degraded on Earth. Here is what we know — and what is at stake.
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Sand mining on the Mekong River near Phnom Penh
Alicia Patterson Fellowship
Mining's Toll on Rivers
An investigation into how mining is reshaping rivers and watersheds around the world.
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River in Wales
Natural Capital
What Rivers Are Worth
Quantifying the ecosystem services of rivers — and making the case for their protection in economic terms.
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Mekong giant catfish release
Wildlife
Giants of the River
Giant freshwater fish are among the most endangered animals on Earth. Their fate is a measure of the health of our rivers.
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