October 14–16, we joined colleagues from around the world in Incline Village, Nevada, for the Springs of Life workshop. Together, we helped launch the Global Springs Alliance, a new international collaboration focused on protecting springs, freshwater biodiversity, and the communities that depend on these ecosystems.
Springs are often small and isolated, but they can harbor remarkable biodiversity, including species found nowhere else on Earth. They also provide essential water resources for people and wildlife. Through our work on spring fishes in the Chihuahuan Desert and beyond, we see firsthand how closely the fate of these unique species is tied to the groundwater that sustains them.
During the workshop, we worked with conservation partners to identify priority spring ecosystems, coordinate conservation efforts, and develop a shared agenda for protecting these threatened habitats. The Alliance builds on a broader international effort, including an IUCN motion on spring conservation adopted in 2025 and co-sponsored by the Saint Louis Zoo.
We’re excited to help establish this new alliance and work with partners around the world to translate scientific knowledge into meaningful conservation action. By protecting springs, we can safeguard both the unique species that live in them and the water resources that sustain local communities.
Learn more about the Global Springs Alliance.