Each year on March 14, we celebrate the International Day of Action for Rivers to remind us of their many values and to promote better management of all rivers around the world. Rivers are the largest natural watercourses, and although they represent only a small part (about 0.0002%) of the total water mass on Earth, their network is like the vascular system of our planet. River systems are the largest biodiversity zones on Earth, but also the most intense human activities. Rivers are an important part of the transportation network, their energy is used to generate electricity, they are used to irrigate millions of hectares of soil and to supply water to settlements, cities and industry. Unfortunately, intensive use of rivers has resulted in freshwater ecosystems, including river systems, being among the most degraded in the world today.
Rivers are key to restoring and maintaining the world’s biodiversity
For this reason, on this day, people around the world gather to protect and celebrate rivers. So we invite you to take action to protect, preserve or restore your rivers and streams. Write to the management institutions, organize river cleanups, initiate the removal of non-functioning artificial barriers on them, hold workshops in your communities, or simply walk along your rivers and remember why they are so important to us. #RiversUniteUs
