In 1985, a dedicated group of volunteers united around a shared vision to develop a worldwide network to protect rivers and promote just and sustainable energy options. Today, that movement is still going strong. Join us in celebrating the communities and partners who oppose destructive hydropower, protect rivers, and advocate for the rights of rivers and riverine communities.
Since 1985, International Rivers has been at the heart of the global movement to ensure river-dependent communities’ voices are heard and their rights are respected.
Rivers are the arteries of the earth, supporting the highest rate of biodiversity compared to any other ecosystem and providing for the livelihoods of millions of local, indigenous and traditional peoples. Rivers are also under extreme threat, with less than 10% of the world’s river basins protected.
International Rivers strengthens movements of communities and civil society at the forefront of defending rivers by:
• Undertaking investigative research to generate robust data and evidence to inform policies and campaigns.
• Remaining independent and fearless in campaigning to expose and resist destructive projects.
• Developing a vision that protects rivers and the communities that depend upon them.
This October, the world’s largest nature conservation forum will convene in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from October 9 to 15. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress meets only every 4 years and brings together decision-makers from governments, civil society, Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, academia, and the private sector to set…
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We’re pleased to announce that from October 1, 2025, International Rivers’ Southeast Asia Program will carry on its work as an independent organization with a regional mandate: the Rivers & Rights Foundation. This transition marks an important step forward in prioritizing advocacy that’s grounded in regional leadership and realities. We are committed to continuing to…
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