The links between human rights and biodiversity and natural resource conservation are many and complex. The conservation community is being challenged to take stronger measures to respect human rights and is taking opportunities to further their realisation.

Written by Chantal van Ham, Thomas Greiber, Gerben Janse and Marta Gaworska, this study explores the state of development of forest-groundwater related payments for environmental services (PES) schemes in the European Union.

Transboundary rivers are increasingly being drawn upon to meet the needs of growing populations and economies. This increased pressure on the available water resources sharpens competing
demands between countries, rural and urban areas, different user groups, and the river ecosystems themselves. The challenge is to balance these competing demands in a way that is equitable and