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.
The prospect of protecting and restoring rivers around the world has never been brighter. Recent victories include successful court cases granting rivers legal personhood, no-go…
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 OnlineSince 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.
Free-flowing rivers are integral to supporting life on Earth. They bolster biodiversity, regulate the climate, provide fresh water, and sustain cultural traditions. However, destructive extractive and infrastructure projects threaten rivers, altering their flow, starving plants and wildlife, degrading water quality, and imperiling the ways of life of countless riverine communities. On March 14, river defenders…
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How a battle over development on a California river helped inspire the founding of International Rivers and a global movement to amplify the voices of rivers and riverine communities. By Kate Fried Nearly 60 years ago, a self-described “awkward” teenager from Sacramento, California, named Mark Dubois, met the most powerful teacher of his life–the Stanislaus…
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