流經非洲南部8個國家的尚比西河為供應農業、發電、工業以及本土使用者、野生動物和旅遊業，已面臨供不應求的窘境。中國、巴西和美國的河流也面臨相同的問題，因此河流管理者學習大河夥伴聯盟的相關經驗來避免錯誤。
名列非洲第四大河的尚比西河發源於尚比亞西北方克連那山丘的中非台地，在蜿蜒了2414公里後流入莫三比克三角洲，最後匯入印度洋。尚比西河流域供應超過4200萬人，以及許多瀕危的野生動物所需的水源。這條河流也創造了在辛巴威和尚比亞之間的維多莉亞瀑布，這個世界上最大的瀑布。
人類快速的定居、不協調的農業耕作方式、水污染、河流改道、盜獵、未加控管的火災、不永續的捕魚、伐林、入侵的植被及因水栽而引進非本土的魚種等原因，都造成尚比西河生態健康的傷害。
為了協助保護尚比西河，非洲野生動物基金會和自然保育協會在3月以保育大河夥伴為名，開始共同合作。大河夥伴聯盟除了在尚比西河正進行的復育工作外，在中國長江、巴西巴拉圭河、巴拉那河及美國密西西比河進行進一步的復育工作。
在18日的長江論壇所公佈的長江第一年健康報告顯示，有數十億噸的廢棄物被棄置在河中，造成水生生物極大的傷亡。2007年長江復育和發展報告指出，這條中國最長的河，現在正受到天然災害、水質惡化及喪失生物多樣性等問題荼毒。
Flowing through eight countries of southern Africa, the Zambezi River faces competing demands for water from agriculture, power generation, industrial and domestic users, wildlife and tourism. Rivers in China, Brazil and the United States face similar demands, so river managers are avoiding mistakes by sharing lessons learned through the Great Rivers Partnership.
The fourth largest river in Africa, the Zambezi arises on the Central African Plateau in the Kalene Hills of northwestern Zambia and winds 1,500 miles (2,414 kilometers) before it widens into a delta in Mozambique and pours into the Indian Ocean. The river basin supports a population of more than 42 million people and many endangered wildlife species. The river creates the largest sheet of falling water in the world at Victoria Falls, shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Rapid human settlement, incompatible agricultural practices, water pollution, alteration of natural flooding and flow patterns, poaching, unmanaged fire, unsustainable fishing, deforestation, invasive vegetation and the introduction of non-native fish from aquaculture operations, have all taken a toll on the Zambezi's ecological health.
To help manage and protect the Zambezi, the African Wildlife Foundation and The Nature Conservancy in March began working together under the umbrella of the Conservancy's Great Rivers Partnership.
In addition to the Zambezi, the Great Rivers Partnership is working to advance conservation of the Yangtze River in China, the Paraguay and Parana rivers in Brazil and the Mississippi River in the United States.
The first annual health report on the Yangtze River, released at the Yangtze River Forum Tuesday, shows that billions of tons of waste dumped into river are taking a massive toll on its aquatic life. The Yangtze River Conservation and Development Report 2007 says that China's longest waterway is suffering from natural disasters, deterioration of water quality and loss of biodiversity.
