A Global Questionnaire Survey to Understand Human-River Relationships

Abstract

Urbanization has altered natural waterways, leading to a growing disconnection between humans and rivers and the loss of river culture – the co-evolution of biocultural diversities in riverscapes. To combat this trend, efforts to restore rivers are reintegrating them into urban environments as green-blue infrastructure. Recognizing evolving human-river relationships, this article introduces a GIS-based survey aimed at exploring societal perspectives on the roles of urban rivers, particularly to counter the “extinction of experience” with nature. Drawing on previous studies of public interactions, perceptions and evaluations of urban rivers in France and China, this international survey, available in seven languages and in collaboration with a UNESCO-IHP flagship initiative, the Global Network of Water Museums (WAMU-NET), seeks to promote the development of Urban Human-River Encounter Sites (UHRES). Through comparative analysis, the goal is to foster a harmonious coexistence between humans and biota – an eco-social approach to revive river culture in contemporary cities.