Living Lakes - Strategies to protect the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems

Protection and restoration of lakes, wetlands, and associated landscapes is crucial to halt biodiversity loss and combat climate change. Eleven partners from ten countries in the Living Lakes Network will focus on capacity development for key actors involved in the use and management of the lakes. Local authorities, regional administrations and civil society will improve knowledge to reduce negative impacts of agriculture, fisheries and tourism and to manage lakes better. The partners will develop innovative techniques e.g. in wastewater treatment, renaturation of lake landscapes, management of invasive species, and biodiversity-friendly agriculture as "Frontrunner Initiatives". Experiences in the implementation of these projects are disseminated at regional, national and global level in order to achieve improved implementation of lake protection laws and management plans, the strengthening of non-governmental organisations and their participation in stakeholder consultations.

Project data

Countries: Cambodia, Colombia, India, Malawi, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka
IKI funding: 8,086,799.00 €
Included preparation phase: 43,434.22 €
Duration: 08/2022 till 08/2027
Status: open
Implementing organisation: Global Nature Fund (GNF)
Political Partner: Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Philippines

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) - South Africa

Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation, MIDAGRI - Peru

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - Cambodia

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) - India

Ministry of Environment (MINAM) - Peru

Ministry of Environment (MoE) - Cambodia

Ministry of Environment - Sri Lanka

Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MinAmbiente) - Colombia

Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Environment - Malawi

Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA)

State Government of Jalisco - Mexico
Implementing Partner: Action for Environmental Sustainability (AfES)

Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS)

Autoridad Binacional del Lago Titicaca (ALT)

EMACE Foundation of Sri Lanka

Fisheries Action Coalition Team (FACT)

Fundación Global Nature (FGN)

Fundación Humedales (FH)

Institute Corazon de la Tierra (ICT)

Lake Constance Foundation (LCF)

Nagenahiru Foundation (NF)

Nature Environment & Wildlife Society (NEWS)

Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc. (SCPW)
Online: https://livinglakes.org/

https://www.globalnature.org/en/living-lakes-biodiversity-and-climate-project

Skip to Project data

State of implementation/results

17 local, regional or national policies include new measures for the protection and sustainable management of wetlands and lake landscapes.
More than 8,500 smallholder farmers and fishers took part in workshops and training programmes on sustainable agricultural production and fisheries.
Over 5,600 people responsible for lake management in government bodies, administrations and NGOs took part in training activities.
Three frontrunner initiatives and five replication projects in partner countries demonstrate innovative nature-based solutions to improve water management, reduce environmental pressure on lakes and wetlands, and promote integrated ecosystem management.
50 young lake managers completed a traineeship; some were taken on by implementing partners into project teams, whilst others found new career opportunities.
The Global Nature Fund (GNF), in collaboration with Trier University of Applied Sciences, launched the Living Lakes Academy (LLA). To date, 35 young lake managers have met the criteria and received a certificate.
Around 1,000 people took part in LLA webinars and expanded their knowledge on various aspects of lake and wetland management, limnology, international cooperation, NGO management and practical measures.
The project maintains an active online presence. Living Lakes’ social media channels gained over 1,030 new followers. Project-related media reached around 400,000 people directly, with a further 10,000,000 reached via the channels of the implementing partners.
International cooperation and partnerships with key global stakeholders in the field of wetlands were further expanded. In 2025, the GNF joined the Wetlands International Europe Network and signed a cooperation agreement. Collaboration with Youth Engaged in Wetlands and the Ramsar Youth Working Group was further strengthened through joint activities such as the Living Lakes Academy – this particularly promotes youth engagement, knowledge exchange and community-based restoration measures.
At the IUCN World Conservation Congress in 2025, LLBCP partners submitted two motions, which were adopted by the Congress. These motions promote the recognition of wetlands as key nature-based solutions for climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and water security.

Latest Update:
06/2026