The pressures and impacts on the World’s Large Rivers have increased greatly in recent years, as a consequence of their exploitation to meet human needs. Large rivers are particularly exposed to problems of multiple uses, often with conflicting aims. At the global scale, there is no overview assessment of the current status of the World’s Large Rivers, the conflicting demands on such rivers, and likely future anthropogenic impacts, as well as the potential for restoration and the associated problems. In 2011 the first International Conference on „The Status and Future of the World’s Large Rivers“ in Vienna, Austria, provided a global forum for a wide-ranging discussion of key issues related to research on large rivers and to their effective and sustainable management, involving both scientists and decision makers. This successful event will be continued in 2014 in Manaus, Brazil at the fascinating Amazon River. Based on the Vienna Declaration, which has been adopted by the participants in 2011, a new UNESCO / IHP Initiative (WLRI - World’s Large Rivers Initiative) will be further developed and the global network of programmes and partners will be strengthened.