Aquatic ecosystems are a diverse group of water dependent habitats that support important biodiversity and provide a wide range of benefits to people. As pressure on the world‘s water resources has increased, there has been growing concern that increased investment in water management needs to include investments to sustain these aquatic ecosystems and the benefits they provide. This is particularly so where these systems are used intensively by poor communities, mainly fishers and pastoralists, and are therefore of critical importance for efforts to sustain and improve these rural livelihoods.