Joint declaration made on world rivers

WUHAN - Organizations representing some of the world biggest rivers adopted a declaration in Central China's Hubei Province Wednesday, outlining joint action to protect ecology and enhance sustainable river development.

The declaration was made in the city of Wuhan during a forum focusing on world rivers, attended by delegates of cultural organizations, museums and economic groups representing 15 of the world's biggest rivers: the Amazon, the Mississippi, the Volga, the Yenisei, the Yangtze, the Yellow River, the Mara, the Nile, the Euphrates, the Tigris, the Indus, the Ganges, the Rhine, the Danube and the Thames.

The declaration said management of resources along the rivers should be related to sustainable development.

A set of measures will be adopted to protect the rivers in order to emphasize the harmony between culture and nature, as well as rivers and cities.

The measures will include cooperation in several areas, including riverbank cities, cultural sustainability, science, education, tourism, trade along the rivers and water conservation.

At the forum, authorities also announced that a museum showcasing the diversity of animals and plants on the rivers will open in Wuhan next year.

Covering an area of 29,000 square meters, wildlife and plants specimens from the world biggest rivers will be on show, said Wu Hongtang, who will manage the museum project.

Under the theme, civilization and sustainable development of big rivers, the forum runs between September 19 and 21. About 120 experts from 19 countries and regions are taking part.