Groundwater-dependent ecosystem map exposes global dryland protection needs

Abstract Groundwater is the most ubiquitous source of liquid freshwater globally, yet its role in supporting diverse ecosystems is rarely acknowledged 1,2 . However, the location and extent of groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) are unknown in many geographies, and protection measures are lacking 1,3 . Here, we map GDEs at high-resolution (roughly 30 m) and find them present on more than one-third of global drylands analysed, including important global biodiversity hotspots 4 . GDEs are more extensive and contiguous in landscapes dominated by pastoralism with lower rates of groundwater depletion, suggesting that many GDEs are likely to have already been lost due to water and land use practices.…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: BCS01660490, 1700555, 1700517, EAR-1700555, EAR-1700517
• UD
  U.S. Department of Defense

  Award: RC18-1006
• EB
  Edna Bailey Sussman Foundation
• DR
  Desert Research Institute
• SU
  State University of New York
• UG
  U.S. Geological Survey

  Award: 140G0118C0007
• UO
  University of California, Santa Barbara
• SE
  Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program

  Award: RC18-1006
• NS
  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
• ES
  European Social Fund
• SA
  Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development