River ethics: Reimagining and redefining human interactions with rivers

Rivers, as natural entities that have been part of the Earth since its inception, are integral to the water cycle, gathering rain from the sky to create freshwater currents across the land. Over eons, they have sculpted the Earth’s terrain, giving rise to a diverse array of landforms—waterways, valleys, plains, lakes, wetlands, and estuaries—thus bestowing upon our world its current visage. As they perpetually flow, rivers facilitate the transfer of materials, energy, and information along the water corridors, between the land’s surface and aquifers, and cross the river channels and their riparian areas. They cradle a rich tapestry of life, and it is alongside these watery arteries that human civilization was born, evolving into a pivotal force that influences and, at times, dictates the future of rivers and the global ecosystem. Today, our civilization has developed into a crucial stage where the dire water crises are threatening the sustenance of all human beings, which should prompt us to reflect upon our connection and interaction with rivers from the perspective of ethics within the framework of which all such waterways should be managed on a sustainable basis that benefits both humans and ecosystems.

By Asit K. Biswas, Cecilia Tortajada and Peng Jing, 2024. Article published in River , pages 1-3 . DOI: 10.1002/rvr2.98

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Taxonomy

• River Studies
• River Restoration