World Rivers Day – Fourth Sunday In September
World rivers day is celebrated annually on fourth Sunday in September and it is a celebration of the world’s waterways. It highlights the many values of rivers and strives to increase public awareness and encourages the improved stewardship of rivers around the world. In 2024 it will be celebrated on Sunday, 22nd September.
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. There might be insignificant importance of celebrating World rivers day for urban citizens that live in different corners of the world, but these rivers play an important role in a sustainable eco-system and green environment.
History of World rivers day
As the United Nations planned its Water for Life Decade, beginning in 2005, Mark Angelo proposed that the global organization declare World Rivers Day, which was launched at the beginning of the campaign. 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. Angelo is the founder and Chair of BC Rivers Day and World Rivers Day.
Mark Angelo is a world-renowned river conservation activist. He hails from Burnaby, British Columbia, in Canada. He has paddled 1,000 rivers in 100 countries from the Nile to the Fraser to the Amazon. On those excursions, he’s developed an appreciation for the importance these watercourses shared, but also for the unique identity and character of each river he’s paddled. His program, ‘Riverworld’, was a hit in North America and the show’s website had more than 40 million visits.
The first World Rivers Day was celebrated in over a dozen countries. Now, the annual event on the fourth Sunday of every September is marked by celebrations in more than 100 countries and the participation of millions of people. According to Mark Angelo, “Rivers are the arteries of our planet; they are lifelines in the truest sense”.
Importance of rivers
Rivers are considered the veins of the earth, and they play an important role in the water cycle. They are the source of transport of nutrients that fertilizes our meadows, forests, and nourishes our beaches. The lives of millions of animal species, plant species, birds, and insects are associated with the flow of rivers and wetlands.
Rivers are the world’s precious waterways, but they are under threat and we need to protect them. We must commit to recovering freshwater biodiversity, restoring natural river flows, and cleaning up polluted water for people and nature to thrive.
1. We need water to survive
Fresh and clean water is essential for us to survive and rivers are a great source of clean and fresh water. Badly polluted rivers can be a cause of life or death. We need to stress lessening the pollution of rivers which will benefit the environment and give everybody access to fresh and clean flowing water.
2. Rivers are home to some of the endangered wildlife on earth.
Rivers are a vital, vibrant ecosystem for some rich biodiversity in the world. Rivers are home to diverse wildlife and we need to keep the river water clean to meet their required health standards.
3. Rivers are important to people’s livelihoods.
Rivers are the way of life and livelihood for many people. From agriculture to fishing these waterbodies have a direct impact on people’s lives.
Join the celebration by attending an event held near you or start your own event nearby. Events can be like cleaning rivers, awareness among people about the importance of clean rivers, community riverside celebrations, and fish enhancement projects. Rivers in every country face an array of threats, and only our active involvement will ensure their health in the years ahead. Happy World Rivers Day!
Suggested Read: Important Days In September
