Ruth Mathews

Ruth Mathews

Senior Manager

Coordinator, Action Platform for Source-to-Sea Management (S2S Platform)

ruth.mathews@siwi.org +46 (0)720 50 60 79

Ruth brings her holistic, pragmatic approach to building bridges between parties with diverse interests to find innovative win-win solutions to water challenges. She works with public and private stakeholders at all scales to promote the adoption of policy and practice that enable people and nature to flourish.

With more than two decades of experience, Ruth shares her deep knowledge of the impacts of human activities on riverine, coastal and marine ecosystems to projects that reduce those impacts through improved governance and bottom-up engagement.

As Coordinator of the Action Platform for Source-to-Sea Management (S2S Platform), she provides strategic leadership to the multi-stakeholder initiative whose members strengthen partnerships across the land-water-coast-ocean continuum, grow understanding of the need for and benefits of source-to-sea management, build commitment to source-to-sea action and take action on the ground.

Xinghai Bay, Dohai Sea

Reports and papers · 20 Sept 2023

Building momentum to accelerate adoption of source-to-sea management

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Policy publications · 22 Jun 2022

Starting at the source to save the ocean

Woman crushes plastic bottles at recycling plant, Hawassa, Ethiopia. Photo: Georgette Mrakadeh-Keane

Reports and papers · 24 Jun 2020

Foundations for Source-to-Sea Management: Lessons from the field

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Case studies · 24 Jun 2020

Foundations for Source-to-Sea Management: Vu Gia-Thu Bon river basin

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Case studies · 24 Jun 2020

Foundations for Source-to-Sea Management: Lake Hawassa sub basin

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News · 28 Sept 2023

5 challenges that need a source-to-sea approach

How can we tackle today’s increasingly interconnected problems, like climate change, biodiversity loss, and ocean pollution? A big part of the answer is collective action, across traditional sectors and borders. This is what source-to-sea management is all about. Here we take a look at how it can help us address five complex challenges.

Aerial perspective, lush spring green vegetation, sun reflection, log pond, coastal landscape.

News · 31 Jul 2023

Sharing experiences of managing natural resources holistically – from source to sea

Aerial view of a city with small houses, by a river. The sun is rising in the background

News · 27 Apr 2023

Two new guides for climate-smart cities

How cities manage water is one of our planet’s greatest challenges. Faced with new water and climate extremes, cities need to radically rethink every aspect of infrastructure, urban planning, and water governance. In two new policy briefs, SIWI experts show how cities can succeed and why this is a shared responsibility.

Tight shoal of fish in the deep ocean

News · 07 Mar 2023

Big win for the ocean – UN High Seas Treaty finally agreed

After close to two decades of disagreement and stalled talks, the UN High Seas Treaty was finally agreed by 193 UN Member States on 5 March. The landmark treaty will protect international ocean waters that lie outside of any country’s jurisdiction.

Close-Up Photo of Plastic Bottle on a sandy beach with blurred ocean in the background

News · 24 Feb 2023

Source-to-sea approach to prevent plastic pollution. What can we learn to strengthen resilience?

Fragmented governance is one of the key barriers to resolving source-to-sea challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. The source-to-sea approach brings together stakeholders and sectors to develop a shared vision and implement collaborative action. Pilot projects in the Vu Gia-Thu Bon River Basin and Hoi An in central Viet Nam have demonstrated the power of this approach.

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News · 31 Oct 2022

Protect the ocean to protect people and planet

As COP27 fast approaches a new study shows the role a healthy ocean plays in tackling the climate crisis. Saving the ocean starts on land and freshwater ecosystems are crucial to protecting ocean health. Climate action must consider upstream and downstream linkages for long term success.

Ruth Matthews, SIWI, speaking in front of an audience at the UN Ocean Conference

News · 11 Jul 2022

Piecing together the puzzle of a just blue economy from source to sea

Addressing upstream activities that impact ocean health, unlocking data sharing for ocean safety, and building collaborations on science are some of the markers on the path to securing a just, sustainable blue economy. This was one of the main messages from the side event held on 30 June at the UN Ocean Conference.

white sandy beach with greenery on the background

News · 07 Jun 2022

World Ocean Day: Saving the ocean starts on land

The world’s oceans are under threat and on the United Nations’ World Oceans Day 2022, the rallying cry is for Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean. SIWI’s Ruth Mathews explains why saving the ocean must start on land, with holistic management from source to sea.

Sella River mouth, Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain

Feature · 21 Mar 2022

Source-to-sea at the Ninth World Water Forum, Dakar

Plastic bag floating in turquoise water

News · 28 Feb 2022

Turn the tide on plastics – from source to sea

Pollution and marine litter are high on the agenda when the UN Environmental Assembly (UNEA) convenes on 28 February. Could this mark a turning point in the fight against marine plastics? Maybe, but only if the world starts focusing on the wave of pollution from rivers and land. Applying the source-to-sea approach could be a big part of the solution.

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