Editorial: Global partnerships and the new International Society for River Science (ISRS)

Abstract

Many nations face a burgeoning crisis from inadequate supplies of clean water - another form of liquid gold with a soaring market value. This crisis, which continues to worsen with expanding global populations and the concentration of these populations in cities, has been exacerbated by degradation of the riverine landscape. In a quest to obtain water, humans have until very recently ignored the plight of vital riverine ecosystems and have dammed and channelized rivers, abstracted excessive amounts of water (sometimes eliminating flow altogether), altered the natural flow regime, introduced destructive exotic species, cleared the riparian woodlands, urbanized catchments and discharged toxic wastes and inorganic nutrients into their waters. As a result, relatively natural or pristine segments of small to large rivers are increasingly rare throughout much of the world, making it a formidable task to study and manage rivers without a broader, often global perspective on how systems function in natural and altered conditions. Protecting riverine ecosystems while ensuring adequate supplies of clean water for human use requires a more thorough understanding of the functioning of lotic ecosystems, from small streams to great rivers and from main channels to floodplains. Unfortunately, this task is especially challenging because scientists know less about rivers than either wadeable streams, lakes or wetlands, and river scientists tend to be scattered very widely within and among nations. Consequently, international collaborations, communication, partnerships and societies to promote riverine research and education are more crucial than in most ecological disciplines, particularly because the structure and functioning of rivers can vary tremendously among ecoregions and global areas. This critical need led to the 2006 formation of the International Society for River Science (ISRS). Here we discuss the need for this society, its history, how it is organized and benefits and obligations associated with membership in ISRS.