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.
For 40 years, International Rivers has worked to ensure that victories for rivers don’t disappear with the next political cycle or development proposal. Our work is grounded in a simple but urgent idea: hard-won momentum must be transformed into lasting safeguards for rivers and the communities that depend on them. In 2025, this vision came…
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International Rivers has released a new Public Participation Resource Manual and accompanying Curriculum designed to equip African communities affected by large hydropower and other large-scale infrastructure projects with the tools to defend their rights and shape development decisions. Developed by the International Rivers Africa Program, the materials offer practical guidance for indigenous peoples, women, farmers,…
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