(October 22nd, 2009)

Water is the source of life and foundation for all beings. As the most miraculous element of Great Nature, water creates and nurtures the growth and reproduction of all species.

Human beings chose to live by water, exist by water, develop by water and multiply along rivers. Such harmonious co-existence between Man and Nature gave rise to brilliant human civilizations.

While modern industrial civilization, science and technology accelerated continuous growth of human strength, human pursuit of profit maximization not only hurt mankind-self but also severely damaged the living environment of all lives. Rivers became hunting targets of human efforts with their lives straggled/plundered and their once beautiful looks devastated and changed beyond recognition. Worldwide, rivers as cradles of civilizations were caught in a crisis of survival.

Aware of its own crisis of survival, humankind began to re-examine the relationship between itself and rivers. Establishment of the philosophy Maintain Healthy Life of Rivers enabled recovered balance of river rights.

We, participants from over 60 countries and regions, gathered in Zhengzhou, China, on October 20th -22nd, 2009, for attendance of the 4th International Yellow River Forum themed Ecological Civilization and River Ethics. Through discussions that covered ecological civilization, river ethics and maintaining healthy life of rivers, we developed a more profound understanding of harmonious co-existence between Man and River and reached extensive consensus, we now jointly release the Declaration on River Ethics:

We recognize, that manipulated by the value of anthropocentrism, many rivers worldwide are drying off, withering or being polluted, facing an unprecedented crisis of survival. The situation need to be changed, and the prominent issues are to promote the awareness of river ethics, explore the meaning of the river life, take the moral responsibility and protect the river.

We acknowledge, the study and construction of a river ethics system and integration of this understandings into the process of human multiplication and growth, will help regulate social behavior of human beings, cultivate and enhance the concept of river life, coordinate the relationship between Man and River and promote their harmonious coexistence.

We have the responsibility and obligation, to mobilize all social forces for enhanced studies of a river ethics system and researches into the connotation, rights and value of river life as well as the principles of river ethics, river legislation and maintenance of healthy river life from a multi-dimensional perspective that covers natural sciences, humanities and social sciences, so that we will jointly construct a theory on river ethics and provide strong theoretical support for harmonious co-existence between Man and River.

We have the responsibility and obligation to act as the spokesperson of rivers. Regarding Maintaining Healthy Life of Rivers as our ultimate goal of river training in river-basin management, we will comply with rules of Nature, care for rivers, respect rivers, protect rivers and support sustainable development of basin economies with sustainable utilization of water resources for eternal extension and continuity of national cultures.

We wish for joint promotion of our cause via concerted efforts of all governments, organizations, businesses and social communities that are committed to maintaining healthy life of rivers. We wish all rivers and human live together eternally!