Thank you for helping create the program for the 24th International Riversymposium by submitting an abstract for consideration.
We are excited to bring you the first ever hybrid International Riversymposium and look forward to continuing our tradition of giving you access to world-renowned keynotes, engaging session speakers, Learn-Inspire-Transform workshops and this year, we introduce RiverPitch sessions, that focus in showcasing/pitching solutions and/or impact projects for our rivers and waterways to potential investors.
This year’s theme is Recovery to Resilience – Leveraging Partnerships. Please take a moment to review the topics and familiarise yourself with the guidelines and requirements before submitting.
2021 themes Dimensions of Recovery to Resilience – Leveraging Partnerships
Effective River Governance:
The management of the world’s rivers involves many stakeholders and in some cases, complex institutional arrangements. Effective institutional coordination, participation and partnerships between multiple stakeholders are critical to achieve resilient rivers. River basin organisations, catchment management authorities, river stewardship alliances, and other formal and non-formal bodies have all played important roles in river leadership.
This theme will include presentations on:
- River Leadership
- Decision Frameworks
- Institutional Arrangements
- Cultural Values and Governance
Financing for our Rivers:
Sustainable financing is important to repair the degradation that rivers are facing. Rivers are valuable assets to communities and economies. We need to link financial systems to our river ecosystems. We need to ensure financial security for our rivers through innovative mechanisms. This theme will include presentations on:
- Valuing ecosystem services and rivers
- Innovative finance mechanisms
- Leveraging finance for rivers – river partnerships
Shaping River Solutions
In the face of ongoing and escalating threats, a paradigm shift is needed in the restoration and protection of our rivers. The role of adaptive management - learning by doing approach - becomes more important. This theme will include presentations on:
- Water-energy-food nexus
- Nature-based solutions
- Carbon neutrality
- River restoration
Understanding River Systems and Communities
A systems approach acknowledges that people and rivers are inextricably linked. Understanding river systems as a whole is critical in the journey towards river resilience
This theme will include presentations on:
- Stakeholder engagement and equity
- River Health
- River Connectivity
- River Planning
Rivers & Covid
Social, environmental and economic aspects of society have been profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This theme will explore the underlying vulnerabilities which the pandemic has exacerbated, new challenges that have arisen and in some cases, some surprising positive environmental opportunities and returns.
Rivers & Resources
Minerals, mining, manufacturing and other industries have a footprint in most of our world’s rivers. The interdependencies between these industries and our river ecosystems need to be understood, measured, and managed. This theme will explore the use of water in the resources industry and the impacts on rivers. The session will also showcase river stewardship investments.
Rivers on Fire
Raising awareness around the plights of our river systems during any sort of shock is important in combatting the effects and aiding recovery of these valuable resources.
The Rivers on Fire theme aims to understand the impacts, raise awareness, and create a call for action to address the effects of fire on our rivers and waterways.
