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.
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 internationally renowned river advocate, Mark Angelo.
World Rivers Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September. It’s a day to celebrate the world’s waterways.
This year, World Rivers Day will be observed on September 26.
With rivers facing threats, active involvement of people is the need of the hour to maintain the health of the rivers. The day was first celebrated in 2005. “Rivers are the arteries of our planet; they are lifelines in the truest sense,” said Mark Angelo, internationally celebrated river conservationist and founder of World Rivers Day.
World Rivers Day: Know About The Day, History And Objective
In 2005, the United Nations launched the “Water for Life Decade” for a greater awareness of the need to take care of our water resources.
The first event in 2005 was a great success and World Rivers Day was celebrated in several countries. Since then, the celebration of the day has continued to grow.
Last year, millions of people across more than 60 countries celebrated the value of our waterways by organising several programmes for rivers’ health.
World Rivers Day 2021: Theme
This year’s theme for World Rivers Day is “Day of Action for Rivers” that celebrates the role of women in protecting and managing rivers.
On World Rivers Day, you can involve yourself by cleaning up streams and participating in fish enhancement projects. Educational outings and community riverside celebrations can also be organised.
World Rivers Day is a day when communities around the world come in solidarity to ensure that our rivers matter and having access to clean and flowing water matters. You can participate in clean up drives and also experience rivers by participating in water activities like kayaking, canoeing, river rafting etc.
How to celebrate Rivers Day
There are so many ways we can all get involved with Rivers Day. You might be able to find a local event, such as a litter clean or a beach litter pick. There are loads of different events that aim to get people out and about being active in helping to improve local rivers.
Some events even focus on the wildlife that lives in our rivers. One example is to take part in a fish enhancement program that some local river organizations might be running near you.
It’s also a really good excuse to celebrate your local river as well. For instance, some people decide to take to the water to go sailing, kayaking, or canoeing. No matter how you want to enjoy the rivers, there is really no better day to enjoy them than on Rivers Day! You will be able to really appreciate what needs to go into keeping them clean and helping the local wildlife enjoy healthy habitats.
One of the ways that you can celebrate River Day is by planning an event. It is a good idea to select an event that is going to use local resources and expertise, and which will address local issues, customs, and interests. Events on these days can range from a single event, such as a clean-up of a creek section or a paddle down a creek to a big local festival with a number of different features and events going on.
It is a good idea to look to involve different organizations and groups from the community so that you gain participation and local support. Get in touch with local businesses, hospital foundations, the government, and local schools.
You can also contact local interest groups as well, including the likes of environmental groups, recycling societies, heritage societies, music societies, art societies, daycares, paddlers, and birders.
By getting help from a number of different groups of people, you are going to be able to diversify your event. This means that it is going to turn into a celebration of your local environment and the connections your community has with its rivers.
You can also head to the World Rivers Day website and sign-up for updates and alerts regarding the different events that are going on around the world. You never know, there may be something that is planned for your local area on this date.
No matter how you choose to spend the next Rivers Day, we are sure that it will help you appreciate your local waterway a lot more than what you might do right now. If everyone did, imagine how clean our rivers could be! Happy Rivers Day!
