by Pai Deetes, Phairin Sohsai and Tanya L. Roberts Davis Today, International Rivers is releasing a map illustrating sites of struggle along the Mekong River where communities and allied civil society groups have been able to hold their ground —significantly delaying the planned development of destructive hydropower dams — and sacrifice zones where the build…
Read MoreProtecting rivers and defending the rights of the communities that depend on them
Victory for the Marañón River!
![Victory for Maranon River](https://www.internationalrivers.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/86/2024/03/image0-12-720x700.jpeg)
In a landmark ruling, a Peruvian court recognized the rights of the Marañón River and the Indigenous communities as its guardians.
“The Nauta court’s decision marks a major win for river conservation in Peru, affirming the intrinsic value of the Marañón River and granting it the status of a Subject of Rights. This milestone underscores the vital impact of community-led advocacy in safeguarding river ecosystems and sets a crucial precedent for river conservation efforts globally. By recognizing the Marañón River as a Subject of Rights, this decision is significant not only in terms of environmental protection but also in advancing the rights of nature and the rights of rivers. It establishes a groundbreaking legal framework that acknowledges the inherent rights of natural entities, paving the way for similar legal recognition and protection of rivers worldwide.” – Monti Aguirre, Latin America Director of International Rivers
Our Rivers, Our Water Future
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.
Our Approach
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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.
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Our Impact
Latest News
Global Letter Writing Campaign: Stand with Bach and Climate Defenders
June 24th, 2024 marks the third anniversary of the wrongful arrest and imprisonment of environmental lawyer and climate justice advocate, Dang Dinh Bach, on trumped-up charges and under harsh and degrading conditions. Bach has requested that the international community write letters to him in prison and call on government decision-makers abroad to raise his case…
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