Every year on March 14, we celebrate the International Day of Action for Rivers to remind ourselves of their many values and to promote better management of all rivers around the world. This year’s theme is “Water for All”.
Rivers are the largest natural watercourses, accounting for only about 0.0002% of the Earth’s total water mass, but their importance and value are far greater. River systems are the most biodiverse areas, but also the areas of most intense human activity. 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 land and to supply water to settlements, cities and industry. Unfortunately, the intensive use of rivers has resulted in freshwater ecosystems, including river systems, being among the most degraded in the world today. Rivers are the key to restoring and preserving biodiversity in the world.
For this reason, on this day, people around the world come together to protect and celebrate rivers. We therefore invite you to take action to protect, conserve and restore your rivers and streams. Write to governing institutions, organize river cleanups, advocate for the removal of non-functioning man-made barriers, host workshops in your communities, or simply walk along your rivers and remember why they are so important to us.
Follow the link to learn about one of our small rivers in Plitvice Lakes National Park.
