Dave Tickner
Rivers, water, nature, people. Sometimes other stuff.
- "This is a hugely consequential moment. The planet’s future hangs in the balance." Calling PhD qualified experts in Earth systems, climate, natural & social sciences to sign the Dartington Declaration: lnkd.in/ebFzEBmN
- Reposted by Dave TicknerIn microsite "Rivers of Food" we show that approximately one-third of world's food supply is supported by rivers rivers-of-food.panda.org
- Worth following this from @jjopperman.bsky.social. #WaterYear was thought-provoking and evocative, with a rather beautiful denouement.
- Three years ago I did a year-long project called #WaterYear: one photo of water each day w/ short content on water-y connections: from the hydrological to the emotional. That was on the other place, so reprising for BlueSky as today is 1st day of WaterYear in the US. See tomorrow for theme song!
- Reposted by Dave TicknerCan the Mekong, the World’s Most Productive River, Endure Relentless Strain? Not indefinitely. The river's story is a cascade of thresholds already crossed. www.circleofblue.org/2025/water-c...
- Reposted by Dave Tickner💧 Our #rivers are polluted, overheated, & stripped of their natural features We’re calling on the government to make #SpaceForWater and support a network of nature-rich river corridors across England ✍️ Sign the petition to help restore our rivers: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/72...
- A useful and enjoyable series of blogs by @jdtonkin.bsky.social. Kudos. 👏
- Post three of a three-part series on some unique aspects of rivers and why they’re so challenging to manage. We’re exploring how rivers function as networks, their unique rhythms, and what that means for conservation and restoration. predirections.substack.com/p/to-heal-a-...
- "... measures to reduce the impact of extreme swings in the water cycle include improving water storage & encouraging changes to farming techniques." The most important measure of all would be to get popular acceptance for better water allocation & management. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Well done @freshwaterbio.bsky.social and others on this. A nice piece of activist science! 👏
- Over 600 scientists from across Europe have signed a joint statement calling on the EU to urgently update its #waterpollution rules to protect #freshwater ecosystems... before it’s too late! 💧🌍💙 View the full statement and signatories: www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/sc... #WaterPollution #EUEnvironment
- (1/n) 🆕: Addressing the policy & business drivers of global freshwater biodiversity loss. cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full/10.... Or (to provoke a debate), is restoration of #rivers, #lakes & #wetlands a sufficient response to the global collapse in freshwater biodiversity? A 🧵...
- (2/n) Like many folks, I'm inspired by the thousands of brilliant #river, #lake & #wetland restoration projects underway globally. From the Amazon to the Zambezi, dams are being removed, flows secured, pollution reduced & fisheries better managed. But...
- (3/n) ... indicators of global freshwater biodiversity continue to show a dramatic collapse. So, is habitat restoration enough? Our paper, published in @envreviews.bsky.social, suggests that the answer is "no". Let me explain...
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View full threadPS: Many thanks to co-authors Laurenne Schiller, @sjcfishy.bsky.social, Eugenio Barrios Ordonez, Ute Collier, James Dalton, Ian Harrison, Li Lifeng, Sui Chang Phang & Bill Young.
- Reposted by Dave TicknerEXCLUSIVE: England’s farms are being fertilised with a cocktail of toxic landfill juice + sewage sludge. 750,000 tonnes of landfill leachate tankered to sewage works every year → mixed into sewage → spread on farmers' fields. 1/ www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Reposted by Dave Tickner🐟 Søren Skarby’s "Scaled Up" project: The stunning, ultra-detailed world of fish: buff.ly/6mVQrTr Find out more about freshwater 👇 buff.ly/MkPOoIN
- Reposted by Dave Tickner🐌 Africa’s freshwater ecosystems depend on little creatures like insects and snails: study maps overlooked species: buff.ly/btqzPAg 🏞️ Some rivers have rights, but author Robert Macfarlane argues they’re also alive: buff.ly/ri198Um
- Reposted by Dave TicknerICYMI: a round-up of recent freshwater news from around the world 🌍 Africa’s freshwater fish face a crisis — but solutions are within reach: buff.ly/e2sIOWZ 🌊 Wetlands at risk, but new report offers road map for recovery: buff.ly/1URK9gF
- "But more than that – it gets people to visit these weirs. They notice the water. They count the eels. They start to care.” #Eels, #Freshwater, #Rivers www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
- Want to safeguard populations of flagship #Amazon species such as #jaguars and #RiverDolphins? Turns out that key corridors comprising 17% of the total Amazon basin are the critical places to focus. www.worldwildlife.org/stories/prot...
- Some of those corridors are already protected in some way. Great. But others aren't. And threats like #dams and #deforestation are looming.
- This was a very cool study to be involved with, not least because it was a rare example of terrestrial and #freshwater experts collaborating to understand shared conservation priorities. We need more of this kind of collaboration if we're to bend the curve of biodiversity loss.
- Kudos to Natalie Shahbol and Melissa Arias for leading the work and to all co-authors for their insights. Full open access paper: conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
- Reposted by Dave Tickner“It’s time we stopped treating freshwater fishes as an afterthought… We must act now before the rivers dry out.” news-decoder.com/finally-a-fo...
- Reposted by Dave Tickner🐟 Out now: WWF’s new Africa’s Forgotten Fishes report sounds the alarm for Africa’s freshwater fishes and their ecosystems. ❌ 26% of assessed freshwater fish species on the continent are threatened with extinction, and the true number may be even higher. 📘 Read the report: africa.panda.org
- Reposted by Dave Tickner📢 We're hiring! Roles at SHOAL don't come up that often, and when they do, we know they're exciting: are you our new Data Officer? Learn more and apply here 👉 shoalconservation.org/careers/
- Could this be the biggest river restoration initiative in the world? interestingengineering.com/culture/300-... @jjopperman.bsky.social
- One for you @crocodiledunphd.bsky.social
- In England “wood with beaver facets [were found] in multiple human constructions, along with extensive networks of ancient beaver dams and channels that had been integrated into prehistoric settlements.” A fascinating piece by Sarah Newman on how animals inspired culture 🦫 aeon.co/essays/did-a...
- $1500 to save a species? A bargain.
- Help us save this beautiful place and the special things in it. We are creating a Yayasan to formally caretake Pergam forest & support the community to take ownership. Watch sanctuary here: vimeo.com/1077004302?s... Please support us before it’s too late: gofund.me/a6804101 @shoalorg.bsky.social
- Reposted by Dave TicknerA poll of 30,000 people in 31 countries found that the public places very high value on water and prioritizes protecting water quality, lakes and rivers - and their priority actions are somewhat different than what companies generally focus on... www.forbes.com/sites/jeffop...
- Reposted by Dave TicknerAs consumption of antibiotics has risen around the world, so has antibiotic pollution of rivers. A model identifies the rivers most likely affected and the drugs most likely to be found in the water. In PNAS Nexus: academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
- Love this new work by Sarah Freed, @micgylo.bsky.social et al. A forensic look at how #agroecology principles & frameworks address #water & aquatic #biodiversity. [TL;DR: There's much room for improvement.] www.nature.com/articles/s43... Scratches an itch that has bothered me for a while. Kudos.
- Concerned about nature & the environment? Want to know how to encourage faster action to tackle the causes of environmental destruction? The best thing to do might be simply to talk about it - to friends, family, colleagues. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Reposted by Dave TicknerLooking for high quality free videos?🎥 Introducing: Open Planet! 🧪🌍 A rich free-to-use video library to help storytellers create impactful content for our planet. Find world-class footage to tell your stories about #biodiversity & nature ⤵️🌿 openplanet.org #ForNature
- Reposted by Dave Tickner📢 WEBINAR 📢 Join our free #NewSpecies webinar on Thursday 3rd April at 5pm BST! We'll be chatting with four expert voices from the world of #freshwater, all researchers involved in the discoveries and descriptions of #NewSpecies2024 Register here👇 buff.ly/oFyNC0P
- Reposted by Dave TicknerNew review paper out on fluvial flood reduction 🌊 from nature-based solutions (NBS) 🏞 🌳led by Marina Howarth w/ Alfonso Mejía & @drericasmithwick.bsky.social #flooding #ecosystemservices #naturebasedsolutions wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
- Reposted by Dave TicknerHold your noses and check out the Watershed Pollution Map to see where untreated poop was dumped into rivers, lakes and seas near you, for a record 3.61 million hours last year... watershedinvestigations.com/home/find-ou...
- Reposted by Dave Tickner💌 Our next monthly newsletter will be landing in your email inboxes soon! Sign up now to stay in the loop with our work, the latest updates in #freshwater conservation and more 🐟 #JoinTheShoal: buff.ly/yh7ICxa
- Super excited to share our new paper out today in Nature Water led by Christina McCabe. @naturewaterjnl.bsky.social “The ecological benefits of more room for rivers” Find the paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s44... Free to read version: rdcu.be/eeuBx #rivers #floods #biodiversity #resilience
- Reposted by Dave TicknerDo you work on lakes globally? Check out what is, to my mind, the most complete global database of lakes (~6M) and associated attributes, newly published in WRR. Also the basis for SWOT lake data. agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
- Reposted by Dave Tickner🌊 Take a moment this International #DayofAction2025 for Rivers to celebrate the lifelines of our planet Head to our website to learn more about the challenges faced by our rivers and the species that call them home 👇 buff.ly/HPIoUHD #OurRiversOurFuture #RightsofRivers #DoA2025
- Reposted by Dave TicknerThe latest water quality assessments for Welsh rivers have been published by Natural Resources Wales. Sadly, they indicate the extent to which targets for 2027 will be missed. Overall, there has been no change in the % of waterbodies achieving good status since 2021 (40%). 1/5
- Reposted by Dave TicknerCalling river-lovers everywhere: today the River Rescue Kit is released by River Action. It's a properly brilliant resource: * training on water testing * legal rights * campaigning advice * fundraising guides * much more Get stuck in; turn passion into action. Pass it on! kit.riveractionuk.com
- Reposted by Dave TicknerHi #fishsky - calling all fans of the fish Lota lota or #burbot. What common names do you know for this species (in any language) and why is it called that? I have heard some very funny common names in US English and German for the species and would LOVE to know some more! #fishtaxonomy
- Reposted by Dave TicknerIt's 20 years since Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize. Who was this woman who almost didn't go to school at all, who planted 30 million trees and who made a president so afraid of her he had her arrested, and attacked? Read about her here: #IWM manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/blog/2025/03...
- Reposted by Dave TicknerThe new issue of our FRESHWATER NEWS provides compact information on the decline of #species, ideal amphibian #ponds, 'messy' nurseries for river #fish, Europe's water resilience strategy and much more. Voices and results from the latest #freshwater #research 👇 sh1.sendinblue.com/ajy1jz5jlxpf...
- This is a very good explainer of why sediment is a big problem for #dams. @jjopperman.bsky.social @wwf-water.bsky.social
- Dams may seem like permanent features of #Anthropocene landscapes, but many are threatened by #sediment accumulation⏳ This video from Practical Engineering explores the sediment-related #engineering challenges of keeping #reservoirs functional! 📽️ Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiUO...
- It's #WorldWildlifeDay so a good moment to remind everyone that there are rather a lot of wild plants & animals living in, on & next to #rivers, #lakes & #wetlands. And all that #freshwater wildlife is also good for people: wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
- Reposted by Dave TicknerSign a petition urging the government not to drop the proposed and much-needed Chalk Stream Recovery Strategy: buff.ly/4iiak1L
- Reposted by Dave Tickner🚨 NEW SPECIES 2024 🚨 This #WorldWildlifeDay we release our annual New Species report, detailing the incredible 260 species of freshwater fish identified in 2024. Read the report here 👇 buff.ly/yfTuvlq
- Reposted by Dave Tickner🎉 Positive River News! As February comes to a close, let's send it off with some uplifting stories. We have the return of wild beavers, stunning river-inspired art, and a community transforming a tough situation into a story of hope. 🧵
- An excellent idea, this, providing there is a clear plan for using the results to influence official government policy. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
- I particularly like the focus on learning from other countries' experiences. The UK #water scene has been too introspective (or exceptionalist) for too long.
- Reposted by Dave TicknerOur 1st Biodiversity Science-Policy 'starter pack' is now full (150 accounts). Access at: go.bsky.app/LjV86zg There's a 2nd starter pack already filling up: go.bsky.app/GzM8eok NB: these are mainly IPBES authors & stakeholders regularly engaged with IPBES work. Please follow & share widely! 🌍🧪at://did:plc:q5dy2sxcoahc6hjkx4wv2ind/app.bsky.graph.starterpack/3liol3iabr42y
- I enjoyed reading this new paper by @lilyvaneeden.bsky.social @hugepossum.bsky.social and others. Important insights into how conservation can take better account of how people think. gep.psychopen.eu/index.php/ge...
- Reposted by Dave TicknerWhy Do (Or Don’t) People Protect Nature? Insights From Conservation Practice and Environmental Psychology to Respond to the Biodiversity Crisis | Global Environmental Psychology doi.org/10.5964/gep.... - I have no idea, but we wrote a paper anyway.
- Reposted by Dave TicknerWelcome to all of our new followers! We are a newly launched #womenshistory podcast, exploring the lives of women from the past who deserve to be better known. They can be from anywhere in the world and any era. Available on all good podcast platforms: open.spotify.com/show/32oPso9... #history
- Any ideas @pennyjohnes.bsky.social @alistairboxall.bsky.social @jjopperman.bsky.social @rachelsalvidge.bsky.social @scjaehnig.bsky.social @michcjackson.bsky.social @jdtonkin.bsky.social ?
- Help! What are some examples (from around the globe) where there have been "success stories" in improving water quality for the benefit of freshwater biodiversity? Could be regs, technical innovations, incentives, etc. I am finding lots of "partial" successes. @davetickner.bsky.social
- Reposted by Dave TicknerIn 2023, 243 freshwater fish were formally recorded as new species 🐠 Experts from around the world contributed to #NewSpecies 2023, describing the new species in all their incredible diversity: buff.ly/4hX0Qce Who's ready for New Species 2024? 📸 Jia-Jun Zhou
- This looks useful. Relevant for anyone involved in #river / #freshwater restoration efforts.
- This Review from Haase et al. summarises the biodiversity outcomes of river conservation actions worldwide, identifies reasons for their success and failure, and presents future approaches to improve conservation. go.nature.com/4h4oKm1
- Always a good read for anyone interested in #freshwater conservation & restoration issues.
- Hello BlueSky! 👋 We publish articles, interviews and podcasts on freshwater conservation and restoration. We feature stories on how rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands are being brought back to life across the world. We are supported by @merlin-project.bsky.social Read here: freshwaterblog.net
- Reposted by Dave TicknerThis Review from Haase et al. summarises the biodiversity outcomes of river conservation actions worldwide, identifies reasons for their success and failure, and presents future approaches to improve conservation. go.nature.com/4h4oKm1
- Not good, #Norway. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
- Eelconomics in action!
- Reposted by Dave TicknerOur latest newsletter just dropped! Here’s what you missed: 🐟 Global Freshwater Fauna Assessment 💼 Careers in conservation 📣 Network of Women leaders 2025 💸 Funding opportunity 🐠 Have you made the species pledge? Read: mailchi.mp/shoalconservation/t… Sign up: https:/…
- Reposted by Dave TicknerHuman barriers are replete across the world! This paper just out in Nature Water aims to advance a more comprehensive river barrier mapping solution to support environmental management www.nature.com/articles/s44... @jjopperman.bsky.social @americanrivers.bsky.social @wwf-water.bsky.social
- Reposted by Dave TicknerICYMI 📢 last week a watershed report revealed that 🚨1 in 4 freshwater animals are at risk of extinction🚨 Dive in to the largest global assessment of freshwater animals on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ EVER 👇 shoalconservation.org/global-fresh...
- Reposted by Dave TicknerA starter pack on the business of Freshwater Conservation. If you know of effective folks or groups working at the interface of policy-practice-science to improve the health of rivers, lakes or wetlands, let me know. I'm keen to grow the list. go.bsky.app/PuVuWgKat://did:plc:ksomdvbwtsayz22hzj77zccv/app.bsky.graph.starterpack/3lbhxqwmh462c
- Reposted by Dave TicknerSelf-explanatory, I hope. New additions welcome (DM me). go.bsky.app/6zW3ym4at://did:plc:ksomdvbwtsayz22hzj77zccv/app.bsky.graph.starterpack/3lbia2aygip23
- Reposted by Dave Tickner❌ BREAKING NEWS ❌ 1/4 of freshwater animals are at risk of #extinction‼️ The largest global assessment of freshwater animals on the IUCN Red List to date has revealed that 24% are at high risk of extinction, according to analysis published in Nature today. 👇 shoalconservation.org/global-fresh...
- Reposted by Dave Tickner
- Advertise your account using one (1) Simpson's image.
- Reposted by Dave TicknerIsn't it crazy how much the Mississippi River has changed in the last two centuries? Check out this graphic on sediment dynamics. #rivers
- Amen to that.
- I will shout it again for those the back of the room: Dams are NOT the way forward for a world dealing with climate-induced droughts & floods! No form of energy generation is without problems, but wind & solar are far less detrimental writ large & are now cheaper. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/w...
- Reposted by Dave Tickner#HappyNewYear from team SHOAL 🐟 Deep dive into our most memorable moments of the year with SHOAL Wrapped: shoalconservation.org/shoal-wrapped-2024-… See you in 2025 for another year of fantastic freshwater!
- WTF?!
- One of my new fave communities on Reddit is called "Ask Old People". Interesting to get perspectives on what life was like in the past. Many of you will be shocked to hear that to be classed as an "old person" who can reply, you need to be born on or before 1980 😄 www.reddit.com/r/AskOldPeop...
- "Every lotl helps" 👏🤦♂️ How the axolotl rose from obscurity to global stardom www.economist.com/christmas-sp...
- Reposted by Dave TicknerWhy is it that CEOs are always handsomely rewarded for their "talent" no matter how much the companies they lead screw up? Does the same logic apply to everyone working for #water companies? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
- Reposted by Dave TicknerAre you a scientist interested in seeing the true extent of chemical pollution in freshwaters recognised? ☠️ 🌊 🔬 👩🔬 Then sign the Statement of Support for updated EU water pollution standards 👇 www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/sc...
- Reposted by Dave TicknerA good thread for anyone (justifiably) upset over recent news of #water bill hikes in England.
- There's understandably a lot of anger over big increases in water bills. Unfortunately they're necessary. Water infrastructure investment just hasn't kept pace with pressures. BUT, they undoubtedly shouldn't have had to increase as they now have. Short 🧵 www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ange...
- Reposted by Dave Tickner"If we don’t see climate [and nature] scientists connecting emotionally with the topic, how can we expect anyone to be moved? We need to more energy into expressing our feelings, trying to answer the question of how best to live our lives." 👏👏👏 climateoutreach.org/how-should-w...
- Reposted by Dave Tickner🆕ish*: The future of global river health monitoring journals.plos.org/water/articl... In which we chart a path for improving tracking of #rivers before the next round of international agreements, due in 2030. A🧵... (1/8) *ie. Published in the interregnum between quitting t'other place & Bluesky
