Conservation, protection and the sustainable management of all aspects of rafting

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Help stop the Batoka Gorge Dam

The review dates of the Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the proposed Batoka Gorge Hydro- Electric Scheme (Zambia and Zimbabwe) on the Zambezi River been delayed due to impacts from the coronavirus. Now is the time to have…
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World renowned Batoka Gorge threatened by huge dam

By Gary Wockner When we hopped into the safari truck at “Safari Par Excellence” in Livingstone, Zambia, one of our guides handed each of us a “Nyami Nyami” necklace. He had hand-carved the pendent — which is a serpent-like creature…
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Rafting Operator Accreditation (ROA) – what is it?

The IRF has for many years discussed the merits of developing an accreditation for operators that offer whitewater rafting guided or instructional services. Simply put, this process would provide a means of recognizing operators that meet or…
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Save the Karnali – Nepal’s last and most pristine free-flowing river

by Megh Ale and Karen Bennett The mighty Karnali, Nepal’s longest, largest, and least known river system is in peril. Of the three major river basins emerging from the Nepal Himalaya—the Koshi, Kali Gandaki, and Karnali—the Karnali…
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Colombia’s Farc ex-combatants and police paddling together

Colombia's Rafting For Peace raft team made a big impression on all who attended the 2019 World Rafting Champs in Australia earlier this year (see Rifles for paddles). They were touched by their amazing story and admired the strength…
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Uniting nations and sports under a common goal for climate change

Presenting to an audience of over 200 from over 20 nations at the inaugural IRF World White Water Rafting Summit, Ian Ponce, Programme Officer of the UNFCCC Programme Secretariat, shared the five key principles of the UNFCC programme and introduced…
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Delivering a powerful message: river guides and rafting operators are river guardians

The message from several international speakers during the World White Water Rafting Summit 2019 was loud and clear: river guides and rafting companies should be the guardians of the world’s rivers. Not only does their livelihood depend…
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Reducing risk, improving safety, empowering rivers: three key messages from the IRF Summit

Taking ownership of our environment and rivers while also reducing risk and improving safety were definitely the key messages at the first ever IRF World White Water Rafting Summit. Binding agreements were signed by the International…
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Pioneering the accreditation of recreational rafting operators

As the global governing body for rafting sport and the globally recognised standards setter for raft guiding through the IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) system, the IRF are taking another pioneering step forward in rafting safety…
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IRF and International Rivers in historic agreement to be better stewards to the world’s rivers

At the conclusion of the International Rafting Federation’s inaugural World White Water Rafting Summit, leading global rivers campaign organisation International Rivers and the IRF signed an historic Memorandum Of Understanding to bring together…