• Climate Resilience

• Adaptation Strategies

• Climate Impacts on Hydrology and Ecosystems

• Long-term Data and Monitoring

• Drought Resilience and Extreme Weather

• Eutrophication Control

• Nutrient Management

• Sediment Runoff and Pollution

• Emerging Pollutants and Hazardous Chemicals

• Data Monitoring Systems

• Remote Sensing for Water Quality

• Restoration Methodologies

• Sediment Management

• Geoengineering Approaches

• Invasive Species Control

• Ecosystem Recovery and Health

• Conservation Targets and Success Indicators

• Six Pillars of Governance: Institutions, Policies, Stakeholder Engagement, Information, Technology, Finance

• Governance Challenges in Integrated Lake Management

• Adaptive Governance and Cyclic Improvement

• Institutional Strengthening for Sustainable Management

• Participatory and Multi-stakeholder Engagement

• Catchment-to-Coast Management

• Upstream-Downstream Impacts on Water Quality and Sediment Flows

• Policy Integration and Transboundary Cooperation

• Managing Connectivity between Lake, River, and Coastal Systems

• Environmental Flow and Sediment Management

• Ecosystem Restoration

• Sustainable Lake Management

• Nature-based Approaches for Disaster Risk Reduction

• Enhancing Water Security through Ecosystem Services

Nature-based solutions (NBS) is an area of topical interest with the recent (2023) UN resolution on sustainable lake management. Lakes globally are challenged by land use changes, historical legacies in bottom sediments, and invasive species. Natural processes in ecosystems offer a low-risk approach to address these environmental challenges and improve the health of lakes. Key approaches in NBS include: wetland restoration and constructed wetlands to increase natural filtration processes for sediment and nutrients, riparian buffers along streams and around lakes, reconnection of rivers to floodplains to reduce the severity of water changes in water quantity and quality under extreme events, maintaining and restoring forests within the catchment area, implementation of sustainable agriculture practices that decrease pollutant loads on lakes, and involvement of communities in NBS as part of an integrated approach to lake management. Co-benefits of NBS include improved biodiversity, recreational opportunities, and climate resilience.

• Community-based Lake Management

• Participatory Planning and Social Learning

• Indigenous and Local Knowledge Integration

• Capacity Building for Inclusive Governance

• Citizen Science in Lake Monitoring

• Public Awareness and Education Initiatives

• Youth Participation in Lake Conservation

• Youth-Led Environmental Advocacy

• Citizen Stewardship and Volunteer Programs

• Engaging Youth in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Ecosystem Services Valuation

• Cultural Heritage and Recreational Value

• Tourism and Economic Contributions

• Fisheries and Agriculture Dependencies

• Livelihoods in Lake Regions

• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Lake Conservation

• Real-time Data Systems

• Artificial Intelligence in Water Quality Monitoring

• Remote Sensing and GIS Applications

• New Monitoring Technologies

• Innovations for Sustainable Water Resource Management

Technological innovations are transforming lake monitoring and modelling, increasing opportunities successfully implementing lake management programs. Earth Observations through remote sensing have undergone a revolution in image capture resolution and processing, but only a fraction of the available data is being used effectively in lake management. Modelling tools have also undergone a revolution, particularly in the area of Machine Learning Models and computation speeds for advanced numerical models.  These models also need to be tied into decision support systems for lake management. Autonomous water quality sensors are providing real-time data, enabling early detection of issues such as harmful algal blooms (HABs) and allowing for proactive management. Research networks like the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON) has advanced the scientific applications of real-time data but there is more to be done with applications in developing countries, often in subtropical and tropical areas. Technological innovations are beginning to address the environmental challenges faced by lakes but require ongoing investments in sensor maintenance, data processes, and decision support logic.

• Legal Frameworks for Lake Conservation

• Institutional Strengthening and Governance

• Cross-sectoral and Policy Alignment

• Frameworks for Effective Lake Basin Management

• Environmental Taxes and User Fees

• Public-Private Partnerships and CSR (Corporate Contributions and Collaborations)

• Community and Local Financing (e.g., Sustainable Tourism Revenue)

• Green and Blue Bonds, Conservation Funds (Environmental Bonds, Trust Funds, Endowments)

• Ecosystem Service Payments and Market Mechanisms (e.g., PES, Cap-and-Trade for Water Quality)

• International Aid and Government Allocations

• Aquatic Biodiversity and Species Diversity

• Habitat Conservation

• Endemic Species Protection (e.g., Murray Cod, River Red Gum)

• Land Use Impacts on Ecosystems

• Conservation of Lake and Coastal Biodiversity

• Water Scarcity and Allocation

• Equitable Water Distribution

• Competing Demands for Water Resources

• Resource Development and Ecosystem Preservation

• Water Security in Lake and Coastal Basins

• Salt Lakes Conservation (e.g., Lake Eyre)

• Salinity Control Programs

• Saltwater Intrusion in Coastal Basins

• Soil Salinization

• Conservation of Saline Tolerant Species

• Brackish Wetland Management

In considering inland waterbodies, salt lakes are usually underrepresented.  Australia has hundreds of salt lakes, mostly located in the arid and semi-arid interior of the country in catchments with low human population densities. Many of these lakes are highly variable also; Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda), for example, can dry for years on end but expands to more than 10,000 square kilometres in wet years, attracting an enormous diversity and density of waterbirds. This theme will bring together researchers, managers and policy makers to consider requirements for the conservation and preservation of salt lakes.

• Lake-related Disaster Risk Reduction

• Flood and Drought Management

• Resilience Planning for Climate Hazards

Lakes play a significant role in disaster risk reduction (DRR) by mitigating the impacts of natural hazards and enhancing community resilience. They play important roles in flood control through their role as natural storage reservoirs and reducing the risk of downstream flooding, including during extreme storm surges, landslides or glacial outburst floods. Healthy lake ecosystems can improve water quality by filtering pollutants and providing habitat for diverse species, ensuring a reliable supply of clean water and supporting local livelihoods. Wetlands and riparian areas associated with lakes can absorb and store floodwaters, reducing the impact of floods on surrounding areas, as well as reducing bank erosion and input of sediments. Large lakes can moderate local climates, reducing weather extremes and mitigating heatwaves. Lakes should be integrated into broad DRR strategies to create more resilient ecosystems and sustainable communities.

• Sustainable Lake Management Practices

• Long-term Environmental and Economic Sustainability

• Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and ILBM

• Monitoring and Reporting on SLM Indicators

• SLM in National and Regional Policy

• World Lake Day Events and Campaigns

• Raising Public Awareness on Lake Conservation

• Community Engagement through Celebratory Events

• Global and Local Initiatives for Lake Preservation

• Advocacy for Lake-Related Sustainable Development

World Lake Day is celebrated annually on August 27th. This day was established by the United Nations to raise awareness about the importance of lakes and to promote their sustainable management1. In 2025 it takes on special significance with the World Lake Conference one month earlier and the opportunity to scale up action on lakes as a result of the earlier United Nations Environment Assembly resolution (March 2022) on Sustainable Lake Management. Natural and artificial lakes contain more than 90 per cent of Earth’s unfrozen surface fresh water and in the United Nations Decade on Restoration, major efforts are required to manage lakes for for biodiversity, freshwater supply, and climate regulation

• Urban Lake Conservation and Revitalization

• Waterfront Redevelopment and Sustainable Design

• Urban Pollution Control and Runoff Management

• Public Spaces and Recreational Lakes

• Brisbane and Australian Urban Lakes

• Managing Urban Blue-Green Infrastructure

• Citizen Science in Environmental Monitoring

• Environmental Education for Youth and Schools

• Engaging Students in Lake Conservation Projects

• Participatory Monitoring and Data Collection

• Education Programs for Children on Lake Health

• Climate Justice and Lake Ecosystems

• Equity and Inclusion in Lake Management

• Circular Economy Approaches in Water Management

• Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Design

• Digital Transformation in Lake Basin Management

Climate change is significantly impacting lake ecosystems by altering water temperatures, reducing oxygen levels, and increasing the frequency of harmful algal blooms. Climate justice in lake management involves ensuring that the communities most affected by these changes, often marginalized or vulnerable populations, have a voice in decision-making processes. To address this theme, considerations need to be given to: adaptive management strategies; digital transformation involving real-time monitoring and predictive models; community engagement that addresses diversity of community representation in decision making and equity and inclusion; and addressing systemic inequities and underrepresented and underserved communities through environmental justice.

Effective water management in mine voids is paramount to ensuring environmental sustainability and operational safety. Mine voids, often left after the extraction of minerals, can accumulate significant volumes of water, leading to potential environmental hazards such as contamination of groundwater and surface water systems. Proper management practices, including monitoring and treatment, are essential to mitigate these risks. Additionally, controlled water management in mine voids can prevent structural instability and reduce the likelihood of catastrophic failures. Thus, integrating comprehensive water management strategies is crucial for the long-term viability and ecological balance of mining regions. This theme will bring together researchers, managers and policy makers to consider current challenges and exploration of best-practice in this field.