As one of the key indicators in the river protection, the ecological flow is very difficult to manage in the coordinated development of economy, society and environment in a basin. With the fundamental theory and methods of the ecological flow assessment remaining to be established in China, we face with many problems in managing the ecological flow due to the lack of the guidance of an adequate theory, accompanied, therefore, with the degradations of some river ecosystem services. The studies of theory and methods so far have not resulted in an adequate ecological flow assessment. This paper reviews the ecological flow managements of seven rivers in the world as examples. The results of the managements are analyzed from the aspects of rare and endangered migratory fish species, wetlands of international importance (Ramsar wetlands), and rare and endangered avifauna, as well as from the aspects of integrated watershed management, water right transaction and international investment. From the analyses of their problems and successes in the managements, some lessons may be drawn for relevant authorities (i.e. government, management authorities, institutions, enterprises and NGOs).

ecological flow  /  environmental flows  /  adaptive management  /  ecological regulation