Rivers at risk

Your story on the health of the world's rivers highlights a pressing issue which gets little coverage ( World's declining rivers put 5 billion people at risk , 30 September). The global threat to water quality and aquatic species should serve as a wake-up call to governments around the world, not least our own. Rivers that support native wildlife in the UK are being threatened by runoff pollution, over-abstraction and invasive species – but little is being done to address this. Conservationists and anglers have become so frustrated at the inaction of government on this issue that the RSPB, WWF-UK, the Angling Trust and the Salmon and Trout Association have formed the Our Rivers campaign. Action is needed to protect the habitats of eels, white-clawed crayfish, water voles and many other threatened river species. Anyone who cares about these species can get involved in the campaign by visiting www.ourrivers.org.uk . Mark Avery Director of conservation, RSPB