The global water crisis, driven by unsustainable resource consumption, exacerbates drought severity and water scarcity. This assessment emphasises the utility of drought indices for evaluating regional vulnerability and monitoring patterns. It critiques large-scale engineering interventions, advocating for sustainable, nature-based management strategies. The findings underscore the necessity of global cooperation in water resource management to enhance ecosystem resilience and ensure long-term water security.

This article belongs to the collection: Global perspectives: sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems.

This study explores the impact of community water ecological design on promoting health behaviours among the elderly in China’s aging population. Through a survey of 315 seniors and analysis using structural equation modelling, the findings showed that water ecological design enhances health by improving environmental perception and psychological comfort.

This article belongs to the collection: Global perspectives: sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems.

This study assessed resilience changes in the supply and demand of water resources in the Yellow River Basin over the past decades by using an improved grey-target model. From 2011 to 2020, the resilience index increased by 69.4%, with the contribution of driving factors rising by 70.9%. The findings highlighted resilience disparities between supply and demand, providing evidence for improving water resilience.

This article belongs to the collection: Global perspectives: sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems.