An end to silos

10 April 2026

Ecological, hydrological and environmental expertise must be brought together if we’re to meet urgent environmental challenges, argues Alice Slattery

Siloed approaches to the climate and biodiversity crises are failing. This is clear when we look at how climate impacts intersect with water and ecosystems. Across the UK, woodland planting is far below the 30,000-hectare annual target needed for net-zero pathways. Only about one in four peatlands are in near-natural condition, limiting both carbon storage and water regulation. Restoration of seagrass, a habitat that can sequester carbon up to four times faster than tropical forests, is slow, even though up to 85% of seagrass beds have already been lost globally. Meanwhile, targets to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030 are distant realities: only about 6% of UK land is currently well protected, according to the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee.

These figures reveal the extent of the work still needed. Climate change is not just a temperature problem: changes in rainfall, droughts and floods directly affect rivers, wetlands and the species that depend on them. At the same time, biodiversity loss weakens the natural processes – water filtration, soil formation, carbon storage – that make landscapes resilient.

These intertwined crises demand holistic action, not separate responses to climate and biodiversity, and this thinking is increasingly shaping global targets. But achieving these goals will only happen when agreements translate into practical solutions on the ground. That is where integrated, cross-disciplinary practice matters. Professionals working across water, environmental and ecological disciplines, from catchment planners to conservation scientists, are key to turning high-level commitments into resilient places and productive landscapes. The recent joint article series between CIWEM and the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) reflects this shift to a shared focus on bridging sectors to meet urgent environmental challenges collectively.

The policy context is evolving. Catchment-based approaches, which manage land and water together at river basin scales, are becoming central to how we think about flood risk, water quality and habitat restoration. Concepts like natural capital, which recognise the value of ecosystems to society, and environmental net gain, a requirement for infrastructure to leave nature in a better state, are reshaping practice. Yet these frameworks only work when ecological, hydrological and environmental expertise are brought together from the start.

Collaboration in practice: lessons from across the sector

There are already inspiring examples showing how cross-disciplinary collaboration produces better outcomes for both nature and communities.

In freshwater landscapes, the focus is shifting upstream. Small water bodies, ponds, headwater streams and small wetlands, collectively support most of the UK’s freshwater biodiversity. Although tiny individually, they are highly numerous and offer clean water, diverse habitats and resilience to climate variability. Recognising their role changes where and how investment happens: by restoring these “small waters,” practitioners can amplify benefits across whole catchments rather than simply repairing larger rivers after damage is done.

Nature-based solutions, interventions that work with natural processes, are now part of mainstream climate and water planning. For example, wetlands and floodplain reconnection can slow flood peaks, retain water during droughts, support habitats and store carbon. In the Thames Estuary, managed realignment and habitat restoration are recreating tidal marshes that improve flood resilience, enhance biodiversity, and water quality. In urban areas, sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), such as rain gardens and treatment wetlands, can reduce overflow from storm sewers and filter pollutants, with research suggesting these approaches could cut combined the duration of these overflows by 30-60% and their volume by 45-80%.

Beyond environmental outcomes, collaboration offers professional benefits. Bringing ecologists, hydrologists, planners and managers together early in project design builds more credible, joined-up advice for policymakers and stakeholders. It creates space for innovation and shared learning and supports early career professionals navigating the complexities of real-world challenges.

Supporting the next generation of professionals

Meeting these challenges, and realising the solutions, requires people equipped to work across disciplines with confidence. The concept of green skills, the mix of knowledge, experience and adaptability needed for climate, water and nature roles, is now central to sector capacity. The UK Green Jobs Taskforce has set an ambition to create two million green jobs by 2030, spanning natural resource management, low-carbon and climate-aligned sectors.

But simply creating jobs is not enough. Early career professionals need meaningful, paid entry points into the sector and access to learning that spans ecology, engineering, planning and community engagement. Too often, voluntary roles and unpaid experience remain the price of entry, excluding talented individuals without financial support.

CIWEM and CIEEM’s collaboration in highlighting these issues underscores a shared role in building capacity: from mentoring and CPD to advocacy for inclusive pathways into environmental careers. By preparing a workforce broad and diverse enough to meet evolving expectations, from COP commitments to local delivery, our sector strengthens its collective ability to deliver sustainable outcomes.

What this means for CIWEM members

For CIWEM members working in water and environmental management, the case for closer engagement with ecological expertise is practical. Projects that consider biodiversity alongside water quality, flood risk and climate resilience are more likely to secure funding, avoid delays and yield lasting benefits. They also resonate with emerging policy expectations that no longer treat environmental outcomes as add-ons but as integral to project success.

Collaboration across disciplines also increases professional credibility. It signals to clients and regulators that solutions are robust, evidence-based and grounded in the best available science. For many members, interdisciplinary working is already part of everyday practice. Now, the challenge is to make it the norm, embedded in how we plan, assess, design and deliver solutions for resilient places.

Looking ahead: from ambition to impact

COP has set the direction of travel; the real test is delivery. The gap between global commitments and local impact will only narrow if professionals across water, environment and ecology learn from each other, work together and innovate where traditional approaches fall short. The collaboration between CIWEM and CIEEM points to what is possible when institutions align with practice realities. Shared learning, co-designed responses to policy challenges and an enduring commitment to breaking down silos are essential. Collaboration is not a one-off initiative but a long-term necessity, the bridge between global ambition and real world impact.

Professionals working together, across catchments, coastlines and communities can turn urgency into opportunity, building healthier ecosystems, more resilient infrastructure and a future where climate and nature thrive together.

--

Articles in the 'Tackling the twin biodiversity and climate crises' series:

• BNG and nature recovery
• Twin crises, shared solutions
• Why small waters hold the key to biodiversity and climate resilience
• Mangroves, meadows and reefs: nature’s frontline defenders against the climate and biodiversity crisis
• Enabling success: the way forwards for green skills

Read the latest CIWEM news articles, and sign-up to The Environment monthly newsletter. You can also explore the CIWEM Early Careers Network through our website and LinkedIn group.

Alice Slattery is a natural capital consultant at Savills
Ruby Falcus is a terrestrial ecologist at Haskoning and is a member of CIEEM's Early Careers Special Interest Group