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The Campaign
Up one levelWhat are Wild Rivers?
A ‘Wild River’ is a free flowing river – a healthy river free of major dams and weirs and free of the typical pollution from large-scale irrigation operations. They are the arteries that bring the nourishment of fresh water and food to country and communities and are increasingly rare in an era of unprecedented pressure on water resources and rivers.
Where are our Wild Rivers?
Most of our remaining wild rivers in Australia are in Northern, Western and Central Australia, where development pressures have been much less in comparison to places like the Murray-Darling Basin and the east coast.
Why are our Wild Rivers threatened?
Wild rivers are threatened by the same destructive activities that have degraded much of our river systems already.
Indigenous rights and interests in Wild Rivers
Indigenous people have strong cultural and spiritual links with wild rivers. The healthy streams, wetlands, waterholes and estuaries that make up a wild river are fundamental to the daily activities, customary practices and wellbeing of resident Indigenous communities.
Healthy rivers mean a healthy economy
Protecting our wild rivers is not only good for the environment, but also for the economy. Wild river protection supports thriving sustainable fishing and nature-based tourism industries and communities dependent on healthy rivers, and prevents the tremendous cost of restoring degraded rivers.
Wild Rivers campaign history
The journey to see our wild rivers protected in Queensland began in the year 2000 when The Wilderness Society identified that no legal mechanism existed in the State to protect our remaining free flowing, healthy rivers …
