New policy directions for global pond conservation
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Abstract Despite the existence of well‐established international environmental and nature conservation policies (e.g., the Ramsar Convention and Convention on Biological Diversity) ponds are largely missing from national and international legislation and policy frameworks. Ponds are among the most biodiverse and ecologically important freshwater habitats, and their value lies not only in individual ponds, but more importantly, in networks of ponds (pondscapes). Ponds make an important contribution to society through the ecosystem services they provide, with effective conservation of pondscapes essential to ensuring that these services are maintained. Implementation of current pond conservation through individual site designations does not function at the landscape scale, where ponds contribute most to biodiversity. Conservation and management of pondscapes should complement current national and international nature conservation and water policy/legislation, as pondscapes can provide species protection in landscapes where large‐scale traditional conservation areas cannot be established (e.g., urban or agricultural landscapes). We propose practical steps for the effective incorporation or enhancement of ponds within five policy areas: through open water sustainable urban drainage systems in urban planning, increased incentives in agrienvironment schemes, curriculum inclusion in education, emphasis on ecological scale in mitigation measures following anthropogenic developments, and the inclusion of pondscapes in conservation policy.
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This long-standing assumption, noted since the 1950s, has generally led to the absence of small water bodies from environmental and conservation policy globally.
“This long-standing assumption, noted since the 1950s, has generally led to the absence of small water bodies from environmental and conservation policy globally (Hill et al. 2018).”
From Pond ecology and conservation: research priorities and knowledge gaps (2021) · cites this paper as Hill et al. 2018
The Introduction says ponds have been historically neglected and remain largely outside international and many national conservation laws. Section 2 attributes this policy gap largely to a lack of recognition and understanding of pondscapes’ importance. Our copy does not establish that the assumption dates to the 1950s. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPonds are threatened by anthropogenic activities but remain a low priority of national and international conservation and environmental legislation in most countries.
“In addition, ponds are threatened by anthropogenic activities but remain a low priority of national and international conservation and environmental legislation in most countries (Hill et al. 2018).”
From Pond ecology and conservation: research priorities and knowledge gaps (2021) · cites this paper as Hill et al. 2018
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Cites
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Pond ecology and conservation: research priorities and knowledge gaps
Hill, M. J., Greaves, H. M., Sayer, C. D., Hassall, C., Milin, M., Milner, V. S., Marazzi, L., Hall, R., Harper, L. R., Thornhill, I., et al. (2021) · Ecosphere · doi:10.1002/ecs2.3853 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
“International collaboration and commitment is urgently needed to increase fundamental understanding of pond ecology, develop more effective practical conservation and management strategies, and for the implementation of detailed national and international conservation policies (Hill et al. 2018).”
BackgroundInfluentialSelf-citationHiggins, S. L., Thomas, F., Goldsmith, B., Brooks, S. J., Hassall, C., Harlow, J., Stone, D., Völker, S., & White, P. (2019) · WIREs Water · doi:10.1002/wat2.1339 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Hill, M. J., Hassall, C., Oertli, B., Fahrig, L., Robson, B. J., Biggs, J., Samways, M. J., Usio, N., Takamura, N., Krishnaswamy, J., & Wood, P. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Worcester (GB)
- University of Leeds (GB)
- HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (CH)
- Carleton University (CA)
- Murdoch University (AU)
- Freshwater Habitats Trust (GB)
- Stellenbosch University (ZA)
- Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University (JP)
- National Institute for Environmental Studies (JP)
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (IN)
- Loughborough University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Hill, Matthew J.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Conservation Letters
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2018-03-23
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 5
- ISSN
- 1755-263X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2790633784
- Cited by
- 185
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 11
- FWCI
- 32.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Conservation Letters (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- ATREE Digital Repository (acceptedVersion)
- White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
- Worcester Research and Publications (University of Worcester) (submittedVersion)
- Murdoch University Research Portal (submittedVersion)
- Loughborough University Institutional Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Loughborough University Research Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- ArODES (HES-SO (https://www.hes-so.ch/)) (submittedVersion)
- SUNScholar (Stellenbosch University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Research Foundation
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Environmental Conservation and Management
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Ocean Engineering › Wetland Management and Conservation
- Keywords
- pond conservation, pondscapes, freshwater habitats, nature conservation policy, Ramsar Convention, Convention on Biological Diversity, ecosystem services, urban drainage, agri-environmental schemes, environmental education, mitigation measures, landscape conservation, water policy
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