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International Organizations
Conservation International's AquaRap Program
AquaRAP was created in 1996 as a joint initiative between Conservation International and The Field Museum to identify conservation priorities and sustainable management opportunities in freshwater ecosystems in Latin America. Its mission is to assess the biological and conservation value of tropical freshwater ecosystems, and to report findings quickly to local policy makers and conservationists, international funding agencies, and scientists. AquaRAP has since expanded to survey aquatic diversity in Africa and Central America.
Environmental Defense
The Environmental Defense Fund is a national conservation organization dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people. They advocate solutions to environmental problems guided by ecologic, economic, and legal expertise. Included in this site is a page on dams, where the viewer can view a map and find out detailed information about dams from all over the world that are: proposed for removal, proposed for construction, and under construction. Use the index to go to "D" for dams, then go to the dams page.
European Rivers Network
The aim of ERN, is to link groups, organisations and persons working for the protection of rivers and to improve communication between them. ERN also links organisations from different working fields such as environment, culture, education and human rights. ERN seeks to promote the sustainable wise management of living rivers in opposition to the exploitation, pollution and degradation that has occurred in the past.
Freshwater Action Network
Freshwater Action Network is a global network of environmental and developmental Non-governmental and Community Based Organisations working to strengthen civil society's participation in international water policy formulation.
The Global Water Partnership Forum
The Global Water Partnership Forum is a site sponsored by the World Bank and United National Development Program. The water forum is a venue which brings together those interested in sustainable water resource management. Non-governmental organizations, international agencies, research and academic institutions, government agencies, private sector groups and individuals can use the forum to exchange information about all aspects of water resource management.
The Inter-American Water Resources Network (IWRN)
The Inter-American Water Resources Network (IWRN) is a network of networks whose purpose is to build and strengthen water resources partnerships in the Americas. The network promotes horizontal collaboration among members of the water resources community in the Americas - member countries of the Organization of American States, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and individuals. It facilitates technical cooperation and information sharing, develops opportunities for education and training and forms partnerships to investigate and manage water resources. The resources and other links on this web site are very useful.
International Rivers Network (IRN)
IRN is an international non-governmental organization working to halt destructive river development practices and promote sound river management options worldwide. The word "network" implies cooperation, information exchange, and the development of a movement committed to the wise use of the planet's rivers and fresh water resources. This web site provides information about current efforts, and links to other web sites. The information can be viewed in numerous languages including English, Spanish and Portuguese.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
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IUCN Wetland and Water Resources Programme
This programme guides and assists IUCN members and partners to find new ways for the sustainable use of wetlands and water resources and advises on the management and restoration of these ecosystems to achieve socio-economic development while conserving biological diversity.
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IUCN Water and Nature Initiative
The IUCN Water and Nature Initiative demonstrates the ecosystem approach to water management in field projects around the world, supported by projects that develop tailored tools for empowerment, governance, finance, knowledge and learning.
International Water Management Institute:
The IWMI is a non-profit scientific research organization whose mission is to improve water management for human use and nature. Their objectives include identifying issues and developing, testing and promoting management practices and tools. They list research, reports and publications of their work worldwide.
LAKENET
LAKENET is a global network of people and organizations dedicated to the conservation and sustainable management of lakes. Has a lake database; on-line forum; reports; and information on conservation strategies, legal and regulatory issues, and monitoring.
Natural Heritage Institute:
The Natural Heritage Institute is a non-profit natural resource conservation organization dedicated to the improvement of the laws and institutions that manage our natural heritage domestically and internationally. Hydropower reform, lists of projects, publications, FERC re-licensing information. The NHI is part The National Hydropower Reform Coalition.
NatureServe http://www.natureserve.org NatureServe is a non-profit conservation organization that provides scientific information and tools to help guide effective conservation action. NatureServe represents an international network of biological inventories-known as natural heritage programs or conservation data centers-operating in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. NatureServe collects and manages detailed local information on plants, animals, and ecosystems, and develops information products, data management tools, and conservation services to help meet local, national, and global conservation needs.
South African River Health Programme
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) initiated the formal design of the RHP in 1994. The main purpose was that the programme should serve as a source of information regarding the overall ecological status of river ecosystems in South Africa. For this reason, the RHP primarily makes use of in-stream and riparian biological communities (e.g. fish, invertebrates, vegetation) to characterise the response of the aquatic environment to multiple disturbances. The rationale is that the integrity or health of the biota inhabiting the river ecosystems provides a direct and integrated measure of the health of the river as a whole.
UNESCO Water Portal
The UNESCO Water Portal is intended to enhance access to information related to freshwater available on the World Wide Web. The site provides links to the current UNESCO and UNESCO-led programmes on freshwater and will serve as an interactive point for sharing, browsing and searching websites of water-related organizations, government bodies and NGOs, including a range of categories such as water links, water events, learning modules and other on-line resources.
United Nations Environment Program - Freshwater web site
The U.N. Environment Program's web site on freshwater provides comprehensive information on the declining state of the world's freshwater resources. The site covers critical freshwater issues including water scarcity, irrigated agriculture, water and sanitation, water quality, groundwater, transboundary water management, water and ecosystems, urban water and floods and droughts. Resources include documents, databases, maps and graphics.
Water Environment Federation:
Founded in 1928, WEF is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the global water environment.
The Water Page
The Water Page is an independent initiative dedicated to the promotion of sustainable water resources management and use. A particular emphasis is placed on the development, utilisation and protection of water in Africa and other developing regions.
World Resources Institute World Widlife Fund's Living Waters Programme
WRI is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people's lives. The Earthtrends Environmental Information Portal (
Over the next ten years, WWF will champion the protection and management of 250 million hectares of freshwater wetlands, more than trebling the number of protected freshwater wetlands worldwide. WWF will also promote activities to restore at least 50 large river basins crucial to wildlife and people, as well as influence private sector practices and government policies to safeguard freshwater resources.
