Asia’s rich tapestry of cultures and unparalleled ethnic diversity are connected by important transboundary river basins, including the Mekong, Salween, Indus, and Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna. These rivers originate in the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau, connecting ecosystems fed by glaciers and snowmelt to floodplains and major river deltas downstream.
They support rich biodiversity, and the food, livelihoods and cultural systems of the region’s people are intimately connected with their flows. Large dams, ill-conceived infrastructure projects and climate change threaten to wreak havoc on these systems.
Our Work
We work closely with local communities to protect these sacred, productive and biodiverse rivers. We seek to ensure that women, indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities have their voices heard and rights respected in the decisions that affect their lives, and we build movements to stop destructive projects and promote a just energy transition.
River Basins
Related Resources
Latest Updates
- Women and Rivers Learning Paper: Lessons from Co-Creation of a Platform for Women in Water Governance in the Mekong RegionPublished in partnership with Open Development Mekong All over the world, women play a critical role in providing, managing and safeguarding water resources. Yet too often, governments ignore women’s lives and … Read more
- PRESS RELEASE | Vietnamese Climate Defenders Honored in New 1-Minute Video During Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New YearFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 9, 2024 #StandwithBach #FreeHong MEDIA CONTACT: maia@ripplestrategies.com www.standwithbach.org Please Share: English Version Here; Vietnamese Version Here Today, in time for Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year … Read more
- Salween communities file lawsuit to halt the Yuam/Salween Water Diversion Projectby Pianporn Deetes, Regional Campaigns Director, Southeast Asia Program October 18, 2023 – Over 80 people gathered at the Chiang Mai Administrative Court in Thailand today to mark the filing … Read more
- Mekong River defender Niwat Roykaew wins awardOn Thursday, October 12, Mekong River defender Niwat Roykaew became the first Thai to receive the Leader on the Frontlines Award from the Asia Foundation, a nonprofit international development organisation … Read more