For centuries, Indigenous communities in the Tapajós River basin have fostered a spiritual connection to their river. “The Tapajós River is a precious river. It is a road, a source of life, of drinking and bathing. It is also a provider: There are tracajá, fish, all these animals that are very important to us,” Father…
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By Maureen Harris, Senior Advisor June 24, 2025, marks a grim anniversary: four years since environmental lawyer Dang Dinh Bach was unjustly arrested in Vietnam. Bach’s imprisonment — deemed arbitrary by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention — is a profound injustice, silencing an important voice dedicated to a more sustainable future for communities…
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June 24, 2025 – Four years ago this month, environmental lawyer and climate justice advocate Dang Dinh Bach (Bach) was unjustly arrested in his home and imprisoned by the Vietnamese authorities. As we mark the fourth anniversary of his detention, we renew our urgent call for his immediate and unconditional release. Bach’s imprisonment represents a…
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Centering communities in the debate on large-scale dams and development finance By Genny Ngende, Africa Program Senior Campaign Coordinator As part of our multi-layered advocacy strategy to expose the environmental and human rights impacts of large-scale hydropower projects, International Rivers recently engaged with international financial institutions at two major global forums: the Finance in Common…
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Dear International Rivers Community, The Board of Directors wishes to express our gratitude and appreciation to Isabella Winkler for her dedicated service and significant contributions as Co-Director of International Rivers. Over the past three years, Isabella has played a vital role in navigating the organization through challenging times and implementing substantial positive changes. Her strategic vision…
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 3, 2025 MEDIA CONTACTS: Siziwe Mota, Africa Program Director of International Rivers, smota@internationalrivers.org, +27 608351354 Emmanuel Musuyu, Executive Secretary, CORAP, emmamus023@gmail.com +243 81169 7699 WASHINGTON, DC – The World Bank today approved an initial $250 million in financing for the first phase of the Inga 3 hydropower project in the Democratic Republic…
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Free-flowing rivers operate as the arteries of our planet. They connect high mountains to lush, food-generating lakes, deltas, and coasts. Free-flowing rivers help regulate natural carbon cycles and influence weather patterns. They evoke a sense of awe and provide food, freshwater, medicinal herbs, transportation, economic security, recreation, and more. Indigenous communities regard them as sacred,…
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By Kate Fried Last fall, Indigenous communities in northern California noticed a surprising new development in the Klamath River: a sudden abundance of salmon. Less than a month earlier, the final remains of four large dams on the Klamath were removed, marking a triumphant victory for communities that, for decades, had fought to take them…
Read MoreMay 23, 2025 International Rivers stands in solidarity with communities in Upper Siang District in India’s Arunachal Pradesh as they peacefully protest the deployment of armed personnel in their villages. Members from the Central Armed Police Forces have descended on the area to enforce the government’s activities to prepare for the 12,500 MW mega-dam proposed…
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On the global front lines of climate justice, few stories resonate as powerfully as that of Mariluz Canaquiri Murayari. This year, the Peruvian Indigenous leader was awarded the prestigious 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize for her tireless work defending the Marañón River. A grandmother and leader of the Kukama people, Mariluz organized local women to launch…
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by Monti Aguirre, Latin America Director of International Rivers In a world reeling from crisis—climate upheaval, collapsing ecosystems, poisoned waters — there are still places and people who remind us what it means to belong to nature. Not conquer it, not dominate it, but live with it. The Marañón River, one of the great arteries…
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