From providing fresh water 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.
Healthy rivers and access to clean water are fundamental human rights that connect us all. The International Day of Action for Rivers is a time to come together in solidarity with rivers and the communities that protect and defend them. By taking action on behalf of rivers, we affirm that we have the power to protect rivers and ensure that communities have access to clean, free-flowing water and the right to participate in decisions directly affecting rivers, and ultimately, their lives.
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. This has never been more urgent than it is today. Rivers are life-giving systems. Without them, our health, food security, livelihoods, and communities are at risk. We cannot survive or thrive without healthy rivers.
When rivers are polluted, over-extracted, diverted, or blocked by destructive infrastructure, it is vulnerable communities and river ecosystems that suffer first. Protecting rivers is not only about safeguarding human well-being; it is about defending biodiversity, strengthening climate resilience, and securing a just and livable future for generations to come.
Join us and communities around the world in making rivers our priority. Together, through our voices, our actions, and our commitments, we can honor and protect these precious lifelines.
Find an event near you, or register with the links below, and we will add your event to the map.
JOIN US!
- Plan or attend an event in your area! Sign up here (forms in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Bangla and French) if you would like us to share information about it.
- Use the Day of Action logos posted at the bottom of this page, or create your own art for your action.
- Sign up to receive email updates about the Day of Action emails and other updates from International Rivers.
- Report back! Send photos and descriptions of your actions to dayofaction@internationalrivers.org.
Past Actions
In 2025, we recorded over 120 events in 30 countries. Activists gathered and protested for the protection of free-flowing rivers, planted native plants along riverbanks, wrote letters to elected officials, took to social media, organized river cleanups, celebrated with music and prayer, held webinars, river walks, writing contests, and kayaking events. Rivers unite us, and people worldwide united to defend free-flowing, healthy rivers and the communities that depend on them.
Photo Collection (2025)
History
The International Day of Action Against Dams and For Rivers, Water and Life was adopted by the participants of the first International Meeting of People Affected by Dams, in March of 1997 in Curitiba, Brazil. Representatives from 20 countries decided that the International Day of Action would take place on March 14 – Brazil’s Day of Action Against Large Dams. Our aim on this International Day of Action for Rivers is to raise our voices in unison against destructive water development projects, reclaim the health of our watersheds, and demand the equitable and sustainable management of our rivers.
Logos
Click on the images to download and add to your outreach materials!
