Dear Friends of Rivers!
March 14, 2026, is the 29th Day of Action for Rivers. Please join the global movement to honor life-sustaining freshwater on this day of protection and celebration!
From providing freshwater and supporting biodiversity to regulating the climate and sustaining cultural traditions, healthy, free-flowing rivers have always been critical for people and the planet. But rivers worldwide are at risk–increasingly fragmented, polluted, and undermined by climate change and irresponsible development projects. When rivers are at risk, so too is our collective future.
The theme of this year’s International Day of Action for Rivers is Protect Rivers, Protect People. At a time of intensifying climate impacts and global crises, when both people and planet face enormous threats to life and liberty, it is our collective responsibility to protect our shared waters. The theme underscores the urgency to not only protect rivers to safeguard human well-being, but also defend biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience, and secure a just and livable future for generations to come.
Whether your community is working to remove dams, oppose water privatization, or seek a voice in river governance, we invite you to unite with communities worldwide to champion free-flowing rivers, protect the right to water, and advocate for local voices in river governance.