World Rivers Day
Today is World Rivers Day!
World Rivers Day is a celebration of the world’s waterways! It highlights the many values of our rivers, strives to increase public awareness, and encourages the improved stewardship of all rivers around the world. Rivers in virtually every country face an array of threats, and only through our active involvement can we ensure their health in the years ahead.
Why was World Rivers Day formed?
In 2005, the United Nations launched the Water for Life Decade to help create a greater awareness of the need to better care for our water resources. Following this, the establishment of World Rivers Day was in response to a proposal initiated by river advocate, Mark Angelo.
The proposal for a global event to celebrate rivers was based on the success of BC Rivers Day, which Mark Angelo had founded and led in western Canada since 1980. A World Rivers Day event was seen by agencies of the UN as a good fit for the aims of the Water for Life Decade and the proposal was approved. River enthusiasts from around the world came together to organize the inaugural WRD event. That first event in 2005 was a great success and Rivers Day was celebrated across dozens of countries. Since then, the event has continued to grow. Last year, several million people in up to 100 countries celebrated the many values of our waterways.
Fun Fact: Did you know the start of a river is called the source? The source of a river is usually from a hill or a mountain.
Why is World Rivers Day important?
Today, rivers face an enormous challenge posed by humans due to climate change, rapid urbanization. Rivers form an integral part of the environment. However, rapid urbanization, industrialization, and an increasing human population have caused tremendous damage to rivers. Also, there are many communities whose survival, livelihood depend on rivers.
Rivers maintain unique biotic resources and provide critical water supplies to people. The Earth's limited supplies of fresh water and irreplaceable biodiversity are vulnerable to human mismanagement of watersheds and waterways. Multiple environmental stressors, such as agricultural runoff, pollution and invasive species, threaten rivers that serve 80 percent of the world’s population. These same stressors endanger the biodiversity of 65 percent of the world’s river habitats putting thousands of aquatic wildlife species at risk. Efforts to abate fresh water degradation through highly engineered solutions are effective at reducing the impact of threats but at a cost that can be an economic burden and often out of reach for developing nations.
How can you help?
Join the celebration! Plan on attending an event near you or start a Rivers Day event of your own. Events can range from stream cleanups and fish enhancement projects to educational outings and community riverside celebrations.
Go for a walk to a water source near you and pick up any trash or debris.
Learn the history of a local river and tell a friend so they can help protect it too!
Donate to World Rivers Day