- Living Lakes Network and Global Nature Fund present the ‘Lake of the Year’ on the new UN Global Lake Day on August 27, 2025
- “Lake of the Year” replaces the Global Nature Fund’s long-standing “Threatened Lake of the Year” campaign
- New initiative provides positive examples for the protection and sustainable use of lakes and celebrates successes in water protection
Radolfzell, February 2, 2025: The Living Lakes Network (LLN) and the Global Nature Fund (GNF) have been campaigning for the protection of endangered lakes worldwide since 2004 with the “Threatened Lake of the Year” campaign. This annual award is intended to draw attention to the ecological challenges and threats facing lakes and other wetlands worldwide. At the same time, the campaign is intended to call for and promote measures to protect and restore these valuable ecosystems. With the newly established “UN Global Lake Day” in 2025, this campaign will be transferred to “Lake of the Year” and moved from World Wetlands Day to Global Lakes Day.
Lakes and wetlands in danger
Since 2004, the “Threatened Lake of the Year” has been selected as part of the international LLN. The GNF coordinates the network with 135 organizations that currently represent 112 lakes worldwide. The aim is to sensitize the international public, decision-makers and local communities to the problems of the selected lakes and to initiate concrete protection measures. The “Threatened Lake of the Year” was presented on World Wetlands Day, February 2nd, and reported on by national and international media.
Unfortunately, there has never been a shortage of threatened lakes and wetlands. Iconic lakes such as the Dead Sea, Lake Victoria and Lake Titicaca and emblematic wetlands such as the Pantanal and the Mahakam Wetlands were among them. The world’s wetlands are more threatened than ever: destruction of shores and shallow water zones, overexploitation, climate change and invasive species. The World Biodiversity Council IPBES emphasizes that around 85% of wetlands have been destroyed in the last 300 years. The rate of loss has been increasing since 1970 in line with the development of countries in the Global South. The designation as a “Threatened Lake” therefore not only highlights the problems, but also emphasizes the importance of these lakes for the local population and biodiversity.
Successes and challenges
In recent years, the “Threatened Lake of the Year” campaign has achieved significant successes. Targeted projects and international cooperation have led to improvements in water quality and the protection of biodiversity. One example is Lake Titicaca, which was named “Threatened Lake of the Year” in 2012 and again in 2023. Despite the challenges posed by wastewater and environmental pollution, progress has been made thanks to cooperation with local partners and authorities.
The Global Nature Fund and the partners in the Living Lakes Network are implementing a variety of measures and projects to improve the protection of lakes:
- Biodiversity protection: Projects to preserve fish stocks, a sufficient water supply to guarantee ecological functions or the control of invasive, non-native species contribute to the protection of biodiversity.
- Restoring habitats: Mangroves, shallow water zones and natural banks are valuable habitats for countless animals and plants.
- Constructed wetlands: The construction of “green filter systems” in countries such as Latin America and Jordan ensures clean drinking water and healthier water ecosystems.
- Avoiding waste: Concrete measures to avoid plastic waste in and around bodies of water reduce water pollution.
- Demand the implementation of management plans: Most “Living Lakes” are wetlands of international importance and are protected by the Ramsar Convention, among others. Improving and implementing these management plans is an important task of the LLN.
- Local involvement of indigenous peoples and local communities: The involvement of local people is crucial for long-term success. This includes educational programs, voluntary commitments by municipalities and the active participation of citizens.
- International cooperation: The Living Lakes Network promotes a worldwide exchange of knowledge and initiates new projects for the protection of lakes.
The approach of the GNF and the Living Lakes Network is multifaceted and comprehensive in order to protect the threatened lakes and restore their ecological health.
Future prospects
This year, the Global Nature Fund (GNF) will discontinue its long-standing “Threatened Lake of the Year” campaign. With the UN Resolution A/79/L.39 for the establishment of a “World Lake Day” on August 27 from 2025, LLN and GNF will in future name the “Lake of the Year” on World Lake Day. This new initiative will also highlight positive examples of the protection and sustainable use of lakes and celebrate achievements in water protection. World Lake Day offers an ideal platform to draw public attention to the importance of healthy lakes and their ecosystems. The initiators are aiming to cooperate with the United Nations Environment Programme UNEP and hope for the support of other organizations.
The “Lake of the Year” award showcases inspiring stories and successful projects that demonstrate how community engagement and innovative approaches can contribute to the conservation and restoration of lakes. This positive focus is intended not only to raise awareness of the challenges of water protection, but also to motivate people to take an active role in protecting our valuable water resources.
About the Global Nature Fund
The Global Nature Fund is a non-profit foundation based in Radolfzell. Since its foundation in 1998, the GNF has been committed to the protection of nature and the environment worldwide. The focus is on projects for the conservation of biodiversity – especially lake protection -, the promotion of sustainable development and the improvement and sustainable orientation of the living conditions of people in the project regions.
