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.
On March 14, 2025, communities worldwide will come together for the 28th Day of Action for Rivers. We invite you to join us on this day of celebration to honor rivers, the communities that defend them, and their critical importance to sustaining all life on our planet. The theme of this year’s International Day of Action for Rivers is Our Rivers, Our Future. We’ll shine a spotlight on the role of rivers in supporting our planet’s health and all life on Earth.
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.
“They are afraid of us because we are not afraid.” –Berta Caceres. Today marks the ninth anniversary of the tragic assassination of our friend, Berta Caceres. She was gunned down in her home after multiple threats against her life. A Lenca-Honduran environmental activist, Indigenous leader, and Goldman Prize winner, Berta is best known for launching…
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As we celebrate International Rivers’ 40th anniversary in 2025, we are filled with gratitude and hope. What began in 1985 when Mark Dubois chained himself to a rock to stop a dam has grown into a global movement that has fundamentally changed how the world thinks about rivers, rights, and development. Over four decades, our…
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