Reports

International Rivers produces in-depth reports on a number of issues affecting the world's rivers and the people who depend on them. All of our materials are available for free, and can be downloaded from our website and reprinted without restriction. 

Learn more about our other publications here.

Below is a complete list of our reports, sorted chronologically.

 
Dams, Rivers and Rights An Action Guide for Communities Affected by DamsAround the world, people are fighting to protect their rivers and their livelihoods from new dams. They are seeking compensation for problems... 07.10.07
Spreading the Water Wealth - full report 07.09.07
Fast Facts on Levees, Dams and Floods Excerpted from Before the Deluge: Coping with Floods in a Changing ClimateA Flood of Damages Number of people the UN estimates will live in the path of a potential damaging flood by 2050... 07.09.07
Before the Deluge: Coping with Floods in a Changing Climate International Rivers Network’s second annual "Dams, Rivers & People" report explains the failure of dams and levees to stop rising flood damages and describes better ways to tackle... 07.09.07
Spreading the Water Wealth - full report (Swedish) 07.09.07
Spreading the Water Wealth - full report (Spanish) 07.09.07
Spreading the Water Wealth: Op-Ed by Patrick McCully (French) 07.09.07
World Bank Management Manipulated Data on Uganda Dam Report shows Executive Board approved project on basis of distorted economic analysis In early June, the World Bank is expected to vote on a political risk guarantee for the Bujagali dam... 07.06.07
Before the Deluge - full report 07.06.07
Spreading the Water Wealth: Making Water Infrastructure Work for the Poor International Rivers’s first annual "Dams, Rivers and People" report analyzes the links between water and poverty reduction, and argues for new approaches to water management that are pro–... 07.06.07
Review of IFC's Report "Bujagali Project: Summary of Economic Due Diligence" The Summary of Economic Due Diligence (SEDD) contains numerous shortcomings. It is based on over-optimistic assumptions about growth in GDP and electricity demand. 07.05.07
Review of World Bank Inspection Panel Report on Bujagali Dam Download the review (PDF, 42KB) The purpose of this review is to highlight major findings of the 2002 Panel report, and to recommend corrective action which is needed to rectify the... 07.05.07
The Bujagali Hydroelectric Project - Power Purchase Agreement Power purchase agreement relating to the Bujagali Hydroelectric Project, Uganda. 07.05.07
The Bujagali Power Purchase Agreement - an Independent Review A Study of Techno-Economic Aspects of the Power Purchase Agreement of the Bujagali Hydroelectric Project in Uganda.  07.05.07
Private Gain - Public Risk? The International Experience with Power Purchase Agreements of Private Power Projects 07.02.07
Return of the Giants (PDF) An article about the renewed interest in the construction of large dams in the global south. This article, in German, was written by Ann Kathrin Schneider, International Rivers, and Regine... 05.27.07
Nam Theun 2 May 2007 Trip Report and Project Update Halfway through Nam Theun 2's construction, livelihood restoration programs for affected villagers are in jeopardy. IRN visited the area in March 2007 and gathered first-hand... 05.01.07
IRN Comments on Nam Song and Nam Leuk Environmental Mitigation Implementation Plan IRN comments on the long-overdue mitigation plan for Nam Song and Nam Leuk, to be funded by the Asian Development Bank, and the response from Electricite du Laos and the ADB. 04.01.07
Analyzing Bujagali Dam Against the WCD International Rivers analyzed the Bujagali Hydroelectric Project’s compliance with the decision-making framework of the World Commission on Dams. The project will need to comply with the... 03.18.07
Nam Theun 2 September 2006 Trip Report and Project Update In June 2006, three IRN staff members visited the Nam Theun 2 hydropower project area. The report from their visit outlines concerns and recommendations concerning downstream channel... 09.16.06
Renewables Yes! Big Hydro No! This summary of the report, “Twelve Reasons to Exclude Large Hydro from Renewables Initiatives,” has been prepared for distribution at the International Conference for Renewable... 01.04.06
Taking the WCD Report to the Next Level: Conference Report The World Commission on Dams' recommendations have gained widespread acceptance in the five years since the WCD released its final report. This positive trend was impressively... 11.06.05
Projecto de capacitação sobre desenvolvimentos hídricos e a Comissão Mundial das Barragens A Powerpoint on using the WCD guidelines for dam planning in Mozambique. 08.15.05
Nam Theun 2 and World Bank Policy Violations An analysis by IRN and Environmental Defense citing the Nam Theun 2 project's non-compliance with six World Bank policies and guidelines. 03.01.05
An Analysis of Nam Theun 2 Compliance with World Commission on Dams Guidelines IRN and Environmental Defense examine Nam Theun 2’s compliance with the WCD’s seven strategic priorities. The analysis shows that the project fails to comply with six of the... 02.01.05
Summary of Independent Technical Reviews of Nam Theun 2 Environmental and Social Plans Because an independent review of the developers’ plans is not possible in Lao PDR, International Rivers Network and Environmental Defense invited several experts in Thailand and the... 02.01.05
Independent Technical Review: NT2 Forestry Development Program IRN and Environmental Defense commissioned this independent review of the Nam Theun forestry development program for Nakai Plateau resettlers. The reviews finds that the feasibility of the... 02.01.05
Independent Technical Review: NT2 Social and Environmental Management Framework for the Nakai-Nam Theun Watershed IRN and Environmental Defense commissioned an independent review of the Nam Theun 2 Social and Environmental Management Framework and First Operational Plan (SEMFOP–1). Most of the... 02.01.05
Independent Technical Review: NT2 Reservoir Fisheries Plan IRN and Environmental Defense commissioned an independent review of the Nam Theun 2 reservoir fisheries predictions in the Social Development Plan (SDP) and the Environmental Assessment and... 02.01.05
Independent Technical Review: NT2 Resettlement Plan and Proposed Livelihood Options IRN and Environmental Defense commissioned two experts to review the resettlement plan and the viability of the various livelihood options proposed for the Nakai Plateau communities, as... 02.01.05

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