Fresh Water: The Essence of Life is a beautifully and sometimes starkly depicted look at the current state of our Earth's freshwater ecosystems. A variety of authors, as well as dozens of the world’s most accomplished photographers, tells us a story we may feel uncomfortable hearing: The Earth’s freshwater supply and systems are in serious peril. We may carry on as if it was “business as usual,” but to do so is at our own risk – and will lead certainly to the detriment of the generations to follow us.This latest publication in the CEMEX Conservation Book Series will alert readers to key issues concerning fresh water: its resources, its uses (and abuses), and its future. With precise, scientific analyses, Fresh Water: The Essence of Life presents a detailed and thoughtful explanation of these issues, and goes on to provide possible resolutions to them. As in The Wealth of Nature, CEMEX’s most recent publication, Fresh Water makes a statement concerning the Earth’s resources and capital: although the ecosystems have proved resilient throughout millennia, in the last few generations humanity has radically destroyed fresh water ecosystems to the point of alarm.Through the pages of this volume, the reader will be challenged to not only understand the significance of deteriorating fresh waters, but will also be motivated to rally support in political, biogeographical, and conservation forums.Series editor Cristina Mittermeier has once again successfully gathered distinguished authors from a range of disciplines. Beginning with a Foreword by Luc Hoffmann, founder of the MAVA Foundation and led by Dr. Russell A. Mittermeier (President of Conservation lnternational) along with contributions from some of the most knowledgeable freshwater biologists and scientists in the field today, including Thomas Brooks (Nature Serve), Tracy Farrell (Conservation International), Ian Harrison (Conservation lnternational), and Amy Upgren (Conservation International) have specialized in developing national regulations for freshwater systems, species taxonomy and data compilation, wildlife trade, research and development, ornithology, biodiversity, and conservation actions.The authors have contributed chapters important to understanding the issues; from exploring and applauding the groundbreaking 1971 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, to Conservation International freshwater initiative, their varied backgrounds provide a breadth of knowledge in covering such topics as aquatic ecosystems, threats to such ecosystems, the services provided by freshwater ecosystems, its protected areas, and the future of not only freshwaters, but of their relation to humanity and the generations to come.It is within our grasp to adapt to the conditions we have created and to mitigate our impact on the future, but the window of opportunity is closing. Now is the time to reclaim our humility in relationship to the Earth’s fresh water and to resurrect an understanding of how interdependent we are with these ecosystems.