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Mapping the world’s free-flowing rivers

Author

Listed:
  • G. Grill

    (McGill University)

  • B. Lehner

    (McGill University)

  • M. Thieme

    (WWF-US)

  • B. Geenen

    (WWF-NL)

  • D. Tickner

    (WWF-UK)

  • F. Antonelli

    (WWF-Mediterranean)

  • S. Babu

    (WWF-India)

  • P. Borrelli

    (University of Basel
    Joint Research Centre, Directorate for Sustainable Resources)

  • L. Cheng

    (WWF-China)

  • H. Crochetiere

    (WWF-Canada)

  • H. Ehalt Macedo

    (McGill University)

  • R. Filgueiras

    (WWF-Zambia
    Rewilding Europe)

  • M. Goichot

    (WWF Greater Mekong Programme)

  • J. Higgins

    (The Nature Conservancy (TNC))

  • Z. Hogan

    (University of Nevada)

  • B. Lip

    (WWF-Malaysia)

  • M. E. McClain

    (IHE Delft
    Delft University of Technology)

  • J. Meng

    (WWF-Germany
    HTWG Konstanz University of Applied Sciences)

  • M. Mulligan

    (King’s College London)

  • C. Nilsson

    (Umeå University
    Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)

  • J. D. Olden

    (University of Washington)

  • J. J. Opperman

    (WWF-US)

  • P. Petry

    (The Nature Conservancy
    Harvard University)

  • C. Reidy Liermann

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • L. Sáenz

    (Conservation International (CI)
    Michigan Technological University (MTU))

  • S. Salinas-Rodríguez

    (WWF-Mexico)

  • P. Schelle

    (WWF International)

  • R. J. P. Schmitt

    (Stanford University)

  • J. Snider

    (WWF-Canada)

  • F. Tan

    (McGill University)

  • K. Tockner

    (Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB)
    Freie Universität Berlin
    Austrian Science Fund, FWF)

  • P. H. Valdujo

    (WWF-Brazil)

  • A. Soesbergen

    (King’s College London)

  • C. Zarfl

    (Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen)

Abstract

Free-flowing rivers (FFRs) support diverse, complex and dynamic ecosystems globally, providing important societal and economic services. Infrastructure development threatens the ecosystem processes, biodiversity and services that these rivers support. Here we assess the connectivity status of 12 million kilometres of rivers globally and identify those that remain free-flowing in their entire length. Only 37 per cent of rivers longer than 1,000 kilometres remain free-flowing over their entire length and 23 per cent flow uninterrupted to the ocean. Very long FFRs are largely restricted to remote regions of the Arctic and of the Amazon and Congo basins. In densely populated areas only few very long rivers remain free-flowing, such as the Irrawaddy and Salween. Dams and reservoirs and their up- and downstream propagation of fragmentation and flow regulation are the leading contributors to the loss of river connectivity. By applying a new method to quantify riverine connectivity and map FFRs, we provide a foundation for concerted global and national strategies to maintain or restore them.

Suggested Citation

  • G. Grill & B. Lehner & M. Thieme & B. Geenen & D. Tickner & F. Antonelli & S. Babu & P. Borrelli & L. Cheng & H. Crochetiere & H. Ehalt Macedo & R. Filgueiras & M. Goichot & J. Higgins & Z. Hogan & B., 2019. "Mapping the world’s free-flowing rivers," Nature, Nature, vol. 569(7755), pages 215-221, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:569:y:2019:i:7755:d:10.1038_s41586-019-1111-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1111-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Gilmore, Nicholas & Koskinen, Ilpo & van Gennip, Domenique & Paget, Greta & Burr, Patrick A. & Obbard, Edward G. & Daiyan, Rahman & Sproul, Alistair & Kay, Merlinde & Lennon, Alison & Konstantinou, Ge, 2022. "Clean energy futures: An Australian based foresight study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    2. Chuenchum, Pavisorn & Xu, Mengzhen & Tang, Wenzhe, 2023. "Assessment of reservoir trapping efficiency and hydropower production under future projections of sedimentation in Lancang–Mekong River Basin," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    3. Zhong, Ruida & Zhao, Tongtiegang & Chen, Xiaohong, 2021. "Evaluating the tradeoff between hydropower benefit and ecological interest under climate change: How will the water-energy-ecosystem nexus evolve in the upper Mekong basin?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    4. Tucci, Henrricco Nieves Pujol & de Oliveira Neto, Geraldo Cardoso & Rodrigues, Flávio Luiz & Giannetti, Biagio F. & Almeida, Cecília Maria Villa Boas de, 2021. "Six sigma with the blue economy fundamentals to assess the economic and environmental performance in the aircraft refueling process," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    5. Li, Mingxu & He, Nianpeng, 2022. "Carbon intensity of global existing and future hydropower reservoirs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    6. Garrett, Kayla P. & McManamay, Ryan A. & Witt, Adam, 2023. "Harnessing the power of environmental flows: Sustaining river ecosystem integrity while increasing energy potential at hydropower dams," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).

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