Regions

Our website primarily presents information on the regions (Africa, China, Latin America, South Asia and Southeast Asia) and topics (Climate Change, Follow the Money, the Way Forward, and Dam Standards) on which International Rivers has active programs. This section offers information on the following other topics and countries:

A América Latina se le conoce por la fuerza y belleza de sus sistemas fluviales – la Amazonía, la cuenca mas larga del mundo; los ríos Paraguay y Paraná y sus ecosistemas de humedales; el Usumacinta que desciende a través de las selvas Maya; y las aguas intocadas de los ríos de la Patagonia. Estos magníficos ríos son fuente de vida para una increíble diversidad de especies de plantas y animales y para el bienestar de los pueblos indígenas tradicionales y los habitantes de las veras de los ríos.

América Latina é conhecida pela força e beleza dos seus sistemas fluviais – o Amazonas, com a maior bacia hidrográfica do mundo; os rios Paraguai e Paraná e o seu complexo de áreas úmidas; o Usamacinta que flui pelas florestas da região dos Mayas; e as águas prístinas da Patagônia. Estes rios são berçários de vida para uma diversidade enorme de espécies de plantas e animais, e fontes de bem-estar pelos povos tradicionais – indígenas e ribeirinhos.

Great rivers are the cultural and economic backbone of South Asia. The Brahmaputra, Indus, Narmada and Ganges have contributed to the rise and prosperity of some of the earliest civilizations in history and today are the source of livelihood for millions. The South Asian river basins, most of which have their source in the Himalayas, support rich ecosystems and irrigate millions of hectares of fields, thereby supporting some of the highest population densities in the world.

Rivers play a central role in the lives of millions of people in Southeast Asia. They provide fish, fresh water, fertile silt, transportation, recreation, and many other essential functions. Rivers and their catchments - the lifeblood of the region - are increasingly threatened by ill-conceived development schemes.

Although Africa’s great rivers are considered "under-dammed" by global standards, the continent’s large dams have consistently been built at the expense of rural communities. Africa’s dams have done considerable social, environmental and economic damage, often with complete disregard for the human rights of dam-affected communities, and have left a trail of "development-induced poverty" in their wake. Sadly, these projects have not led to progress in electrifying the huge proportion of Africans now without electricity.

Latin America is known for the power and beauty of its river systems – the Amazon, the world´s largest river basin; the Paraguay and Paraná rivers and wetland ecosystems; the Usamacinta flowing through the Mayan rainforests; and the pristine waters of the rivers of Patagonia.

China has more large dams than any other country in the world and Chinese companies are rapidly exporting their dam-building model overseas. Chinese banks and companies are involved in constructing some 300 dams in 66 different countries, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia.