This book presents a new conceptualization of river-related policy issues, using concepts such as the Commercial and Cordon approaches to rivers and their opposite, the Ecological and Open approaches. It draws upon river-related experience from across the world to substantiate and illustrate these concepts. This new conceptualization will help to connect the river policy discussion of experts and specialists with that of river activists and the public. This shared discussion will allow better river policy formulation. The book argues for replacing the currently dominant Commercial and Cordon a ... More

This book presents a new conceptualization of river-related policy issues, using concepts such as the Commercial and Cordon approaches to rivers and their opposite, the Ecological and Open approaches. It draws upon river-related experience from across the world to substantiate and illustrate these concepts. This new conceptualization will help to connect the river policy discussion of experts and specialists with that of river activists and the public. This shared discussion will allow better river policy formulation. The book argues for replacing the currently dominant Commercial and Cordon approaches to rivers by the Ecological and Open approaches, and it shows how such a policy change can be more conducive to achieving sustainable development. Rivers are a vital component of the ecology of the world. The earth’s hydrological cycle depends on them. As the world population grows and the demand for freshwater increases, rivers are coming under more stress. Many rivers are already exhausted before reaching the sea, and climate change further destabilizes them. River-related conflicts are spreading. The need to adopt correct river policies is more urgent than ever. Yet the current disconnection between river-related discussions by experts and specialists, on the one hand, and activists and policymakers, on the other, makes formulation of correct river policies difficult. By helping to move the river policy discussion from the confines of experts to the public arena, this book will allow formulation of more pro-people and pro-environment river policies.