About Rivers & Dams

Pak Mun Dam

Healthy rivers are the lifelines of our planet, yet modern society has long treated them as though they are replaceable. The notion that rivers serve us better as engineered "machines" rather than organic natural systems has been disproved time and again, yet there are strong forces allied to take this destructive model where ever rivers run free. We cannot engineer our way to a healthy future by sacrificing these lifelines: There is no substitute for healthy river systems when it comes to providing clean water, supporting fisheries, forests, wetlands, and any number of other key ecosystem services.

Rivers are under threat from pollution, diversions, deforestation and, of course, climate change. International Rivers focuses on the threat of large dams to the world's rivers because of the widespread and long-lasting damage they cause to people and the planet. Millions of people worldwide face serious threats to their livelihoods and cultures due to large dams. Intended to boost development, these projects have instead resulted in further impoverishment, degraded environments and human rights violations. An estimated 40–80 million people have been forcibly evicted from their lands to make way for flooding caused by dam reservoirs, and at least 500 million people living downstream of dams have suffered from ecological impacts to their rivers. These people have often been left economically, culturally and psychologically devastated.

In addition to huge social and environmental impacts, dams often fail to meet projected benefits. The World Commission on Dams (WCD) report documented that dams have on the whole generated less power, irrigated less land and supplied less drinking water than projected, while costing significantly more than expected. While dams can prevent some floods from occurring, the WCD found that they can also worsen damages when floods do occur. Better options for meeting energy, water and flood management needs exist.

A global movement of activists and communities has for decades fought to protect rivers and to demand just and equitable development that respects the basic human rights of all people. The movement has had many great successes – and many "cancelled dams" that arose from the ashes to pose new threats. Today, the world's rivers face an increasingly emboldened dam industry that is using the threat of climate change to push for a global dam boom. We can't sacrifice the planet's rivers in the name of climate mitigation. The struggle continues.

For a visual introduction to dams, rivers and people watch our We All Live Downstream slideshow.

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