The CHR is an organization in which the scientific institutes of the Rhine riparian states develop joint hydrological measures for sustainable development of the Rhine basin. The CHR was founded in 1970 following advice by UNESCO to promote closer co-operation in international river basins. Since 1975, the work has been continued within the framework of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of the UNESCO and the Operational Hydrological Programme (OHP) of the WMO. The member states of the CHR are: Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Vision
Agreed working and funding structures are available within the Rhine-bordering countries. These allow the CHR to continually generate adequate and future-oriented scientific knowledge pertaining to the hydrology of the Rhine, for the targeted use of policy-makers and stakeholders. The CHR is a leading worldwide example of successful and peaceful international collaboration when it comes to transboundary river basins.
Mission
The CHR provides a scientific knowledge base for the hydrology of the Rhine catchment area, conducting both solicited and unsolicited research. The CHR makes these results available to scientists, decision-makers and stakeholders in the region. Consequently, we are focussing on advising politically-active and technically-oriented organizations, such as the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) and the Central Commission for Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR), to support them with reliable science-based information for the implementation of guidelines, policy, management and decision-making.
Furthermore, we would like to refer to our strategy 2020-2030 (available in German, English and French)
Research for practice
As a working alliance of the states riparian to the Rhine, the CHR is able to combine complex data records into a uniform database on which basis projects can be conducted which do not just relate to the river line itself but also to the entire Rhine basin. The themes of these projects are:
- Hydrological interests in water economy and flood control
- Sediment management
- Hydrological forecasts and models
- Comparison between methods and measuring equipment
- Studies into climatic changes and their possible effects
- Registration of the interactive relationships between the various influencing factors on the hydrology of the Rhine basin
Creating synergies through co-operation
The CHR deploys working groups and reporters to carry out these projects. The hydrological services and universities of the individual member states second specialist staff and make resources available. Where necessary, the CHR liaises with other international organizations and/or makes its findings available to them.
CHR publications
The CHR publishes two series of reports:
- The findings of the official CHR working groups and reporters are published in series I.
- Series II contains reports which are of interest within the scope of the work of the CHR, but which are only sponsored by CHR.
The CHR is an organization in which the scientific institutes of the Rhine riparian states develop joint hydrological measures for sustainable development of the Rhine basin. The CHR was founded in 1970 following advice by UNESCO to promote closer co-operation in international river basins. Since 1975, the work has been continued within the framework of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of the UNESCO and the Operational Hydrological Programme (OHP) of the WMO. The member states of the CHR are: Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.