18th International Riversymposium will take place in Brisbane, Australia
The 18th International Riversymposium: Healthy Rivers - Healthy Economies, will convene 21-23 September 2015. The three-day program will encourage engagement between communities, scientists, policy-makers, river professionals, business sectors, and industries. Interactive sessions will explore hot topics including integrated river basin management, climate change, and river restoration. The Emerging Water Professionals Program offers outstanding professional development opportunities. Renowned for its sub-tropical climate, Brisbane provides a breathtaking setting for the Riversymposium with the venue situated just a short walk from the Brisbane River. Post-conference study tours will offer the chance to explore the city and its surrounds as well as the world-famous Great Barrier Reef - truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Inaugural North American Riverprize
The Niagara River was the recipient of the inaugural North American Riverprize, awarded at the River Rally in Santa Ana Pueblo, near Albuquerque, New Mexico in May 2015. The Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper received the award for a quarter-century of collaborative river restoration activities. Other finalists were the Connecticut River (New England), Sun River (Montana), and San Antonio River (Texas). As a result of winning the North American Riverprize, the Niagara River is automatically a finalist for the International Riverprize in 2016.
Finalists for the Thiess International Riverprize
During the 18th International Riversymposium, the International RiverFoundation (IRF) will announce the winner of the 2015 Thiess International Riverprize - awarded to those who have achieved the most outstanding results in river management, restoration, or protection globally. The three finalists in the 2015 Thiess International Riverprize have recently been announced as the River Mur (Austria), Lake Eyre Basin (Australia), and the Jordan River (Jordan, Israel, and Palestine). IRF CEO, Dr Nicholas Schofield, said, "The Thiess International Riverprize is the most acclaimed river award globally and a life-changer for winners who are then encouraged to share their award-winning best practices with regions in need." The three finalists will present their achievements at the International Riversymposium in Brisbane, with the winner to be announced at the Riverprize Gala Dinner on Tuesday 22 September.
A Special Session on Report Cards
IAN, the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, and Healthy Waterways are hosting a joint session on ecosystem health report cards. The session will highlight key advances in report card development, including: evaluation of pressure, state, and response status; social, economic, and environment indicators; and the importance of process in engagement of stakeholders. We will illustrate these advances through examining the Great Barrier Reef Report Card, Healthy Waterways Report Card for Southeast Queensland, and report cards for the Mississippi River, Willamette River, and a new Global Partnership between WWF and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.