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Statistics show that in 2005, a total of US$38 billion was invested in renewable energy development worldwide. China topped the list with a commitment of US$6 billion, excluding spending on large hydropower projects. China has good reason to speed up its renewable development, as the country is fairly poor in many energy resources in per capita terms. China's proven reserves of petroleum, natural gas and coal could last 15, 30, and 80 years, compared with world averages of 45, 61, and 230 years. At a Sino-European economic summit held in September in Germany, Chinese Premier Wen J

Sugar is king in Mauritius, accounting for 90% of cropland, 25% of foreign exchange earnings, and supporting 1 in every 18 residents of this tiny island nation. But sugar is not the only export coming from the cane fields – electricity is a valuable byproduct of the harvest.For nearly 50 years, Mauritius has been using agricultural waste from its sugar industry to help electrify the nation. Not only does Mauritius have the highest electricity access rate in Africa – often cited at 100% – but more than a third of its electricity comes from power plants using bagasse, the fibrous waste fr

December 2008 World Rivers Review: Special Focus on River Restoration Progress in restoring Florida's Everglades, said to be the largest ecosystem restoration project in history, may be held back for another decade by numerous budget and procedural problems. Since the approval of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) by Congress in 2000, not one of the 60 proposed components of the plan have been completed, bringing serious concern for the continued loss of endangered ecosystems and dwindling public support. "The process is a mess," says Sara Fain, Nationa

December 2008 World Rivers Review: Special Focus on River Restoration For decades, the Sardar Sarovar Dam on India's Narmada River has been a powerful symbol of what is going wrong with large dam projects. A new independent review shows that the project's benefits have not been realized, while the social, environmental and financial costs are even more serious than expected.Dam proponents are promoting Sardar Sarover as "the lifeline of Gujarat." They say the project will irrigate large swathes of land, generate electricity and provide drinking water to the thirsty cities of this dry state in

December 2008 World Rivers Review: Special Focus on River Restoration Pakistan's National Economic Council has approved US$1.5 billion toward the construction of the 4,500 MW Diamer-Bhasha Dam on the Indus in the North of the country. With this decision, the government gives the go-ahead for a project with a 200-square-kilometer reservoir and a price tag of $12.6 billion. The $1.5 billion is earmarked just for the acquisition of land.According to Raja Pervez Ashraf, federal minister for water and power, Chinese companies are interested in constructing the project and "some Arab countries" wan

December 2008 World Rivers Review: Special Focus on River Restoration The modern story of the Iraqi Marshlands begins tragically - with intentional environmental destruction used as a political weapon - but today is one of miraculous renewal, international cooperation and hope. Once at the brink of total collapse, the area has been restored to a point where it will soon be proposed as a UN World Heritage Site. The Iraqi Marshlands, said to be the location of the Garden of Eden, are also home to a 5,000-year-old civilization and rich biodiversity. Located at the confluence of the Tigris and

December 2008 World Rivers Review: Special Focus on River Restoration Crossing through ten countries and draining the territory of 19 countries, the Danube is the most international river in the world. In addition to the 83 million people living in the river basin, the Danube is home to globally important species of flora and fauna.In its 2,780 km course from Germany's Black Forest to its outlet at the Black Sea, the Danube basin supports a diverse system of natural habitats and unique biological diversity. The Danube River Basin has more than 100 different species of fish - including five st

December 2008 World Rivers Review: Special Focus on River RestorationIn Spain, dam removal has been increasing in the past decade. Water oversight committees, municipalities, and, above all, anglers and environmental groups are pressing for healthier ways to manage rivers. Alcalá del Río, Guadalquivir River, Sevilla, Spain Courtesy of Pedro Brufao, Rios con Vida Almost all of the demolitions in Spain have been of small dams, but some larger dams are currently under review, such as Alcalá del Río and Cantillana dams in Seville, which eliminated the sturgeon population in the Guadalquivir

December 2008 World Rivers Review: Special Focus on River Restoration Featured River Restorers: William Dvorak Serena McClain Leaf Hillman Somkiat Singhakham Mark Angelo A Life of Rivers: William Dvorak by Tim Kingston Wil Dvorak, International Rivers' super volunteer Water and rivers have always been a part of Wil Dvorak's life. He was born three blocks from the river in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and built his first kayak at 13. When not busy at International Rivers putting together the River Revival Bulletin, Dvorak can be found camping and kayaking the western states alo

December 2008 World Rivers Review: Special Focus on River Restoration The Sandy River in Oregon is undergoing a restoration since the Marmot Dam was removed. Wikipedia When the nearly 50-foot-high Marmot Dam was removed from the Sandy River in Oregon last year, some estimated it could take two to five years for the river to process the rocks, gravel and sand that had collected in the reservoir for decades. Instead, the river cleaned itself out in months. In fact, the day after the dam was removed, federally protected Coho salmon were migrating past the former dam site. This summer,