About Brian Richter | The Nature Conservancy

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Brian Richter © The Nature Conservancy

Brian Richter

Director
Global Freshwater Strategies

Brief Biography

Brian Richter has been a leader in river science and conservation for more than 20 years. He is the Director of Global Freshwater Strategies for The Nature Conservancy, promoting sustainable water use and management with governments, corporations, and local communities. Brian has consulted on more than 120 river projects worldwide. He serves as a water advisor to some of the world’s largest corporations and investment banks, and has testified before the US Congress on multiple occasions. He also teaches a course on Water Sustainability at the University of Virginia. Brian has developed numerous scientific tools and methods to support river protection and restoration efforts, including the Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration software that is being used by water managers and ecologists worldwide. Brian was featured in a BBC documentary with David Attenborough on “How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth?” He has published many scientific papers on the importance of ecologically sustainable water management in international science journals, and co-authored a book with Sandra Postel entitled “Rivers for Life: Managing Water for People and Nature” (Island Press, 2003).