Activity 1: To coordinate and facilitate the World’s Large Rivers Initiative (WLRI)

A task force representing the different regions of the UNESCO programme was established in 2014 in order to prepare the approval of the World’s Large Rivers Initiative (WLRI) in the 21st IHP council. The task force also supports the chair in important decisions in connection with the WLR Confereces.

Activity 2: To support the organization of the international World’s Large Rivers Conferences

The first international conference on the status and future of the World’s Large Rivers was held in Vienna, Austria, in April 2011 and can be seen as a “kick-off” of this Chair. Further conferences were held in Manaus, Brazil in 2014 and New Delhi, India in 2017. The next WLR Conference will take place in 2021 in Moscow.

Activity 3: To foster a linkage between research at and management of large river basins

The Chair brings together scientists and practitioners from all fields of river related research in order to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Activity 4: To promote and organize a proposal for an integrated project on the status and future of the World’s Large Rivers

One of the main activities of this Chair is supporting and organising joint international projects at large rivers. The aim is to facilitate cooperation between different states and organizations.

Activity 5: To develop a concept for a global observatory of large rivers and their associated basins

The observatory consists of scientists and researchers coming from different river basins and fields of research. The establishment of a common database is intended.

Activity 6: To educate, to build knowledge societies and to raise awareness in the context of integrated river research and management

The Chair facilitates the exchange of students and researchers and regularly invites scientists to present their work on rivers at workshops, conferences, etc.