Conclusions: Small Water Bodies of the Western Balkans—Values and Threats

The small waters bodies such as headwater streams, springs, ditches, small lakes and ponds are critical to maintaining freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem services. This is especially true for Dinaric karst where they are often the only water bodies present. This concluding chapter briefly describes the main conclusions presented in the book “Small Water Bodies of the Western Balkan” which has 19 chapters and is addressed to different types of specialists, from managers and policy makers to hydrologists and ecologists. There has been no recent publication that provides such comprehensive knowledge on small water bodies in the Western Balkans. To address this research gap, our aim was to draw together information on different aspects of these important habitats in one place. The book highlights recent advances and current gaps in our knowledge of these important but still neglected freshwater ecosystems, and promotes their protection in a socio-ecological framework taking into account the contrasting climate and economic development across regions.