Every March 14, the International Day of Action for Rivers is commemorated, a date promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of river ecosystems and their essential role in biodiversity, climate regulation and people’s quality of life. This year’s theme is “Our Rivers, Our Future“.

Rivers are a key element in the hydrological cycle and are home to enormous biodiversity. They reduce the risks of droughts and floods, recharge aquifers and serve as a means of river transport. In addition, rivers have been fundamental in the development of civilizations and continue to be essential elements in the ecological balance and well-being of the population.

Despite their importance, they face serious threats due to the fragmentation of their channels, pollution and climate change. According to data from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the degradation of rivers and wetlands has led to the disappearance of 33% of these ecosystems in the last 50 years, with a drastic reduction of 83% in the populations of freshwater species.

In this context, the EU Nature Restoration Law marks a milestone in the protection and recovery of ecosystems at the European level. This regulation aims to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all degraded ecosystems by 2050. Among its key measures is the removal of artificial barriers in rivers to restore 25,000 km of riverbeds before the end of the decade.

This law, in addition to protecting biodiversity, strengthens resilience to extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, and seeks to ensure compliance with international environmental commitments, such as the Paris Agreement.

Promotion of river restoration in Spain

The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has been working for years to protect and restore rivers and river ecosystems through different actions. One of the main contributions is the call for grants for the restoration of river ecosystems and the reduction of flood risk in Spanish urban environments, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (RTRP), financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, endowed with almost 74 million euros.

Thanks to it, they have launched 36 projects with actions that aim to contribute to the recovery of groves and riverside forests, the increase of river space, the renaturalization of the river bed and the plains in urban areas for flood lamination or the elimination of transversal barriers in rivers, among other actions.

One of these projects is REFLUX MI RIO, led by the Orihuela City Council, which seeks to restore the Segura river basin as it passes through Orihuela, in the Valencian Community. With a budget of almost 3.8 million euros, this project is focused on the recovery of groves and riverside forests, the renaturalization of the riverbed and the reduction of flood risk.

Also noteworthy is BI-RE-PAPAH, coordinated by the Zaragoza City Council, which is working on the restoration of the Huerva River as it passes through the city. Endowed with more than 4.2 million euros, it works to improve the ecological continuity of river corridors, integrating Nature-based Solutions to adapt these urban spaces to climate change and promote their use by citizens.

For its part, the Andújar City Council, with a grant of 2.6 million euros, is carrying out in the Andújar Organic River Park (P.F.O.A.) the ecological restoration of the riparian vegetation of the banks of the Guadalquivir as it passes through the municipality of Andújar, the reduction of the risk of flooding in the city and the connection of the Guadalquivir River with the inhabitants of the City of Andújar and its region.

Nature-based solutions

The renaturation strategies applied in these projects are committed to Nature-based Solutions (NBS), which allow the ecological functionality of rivers to be recovered while offering social and economic benefits. Actions such as the removal of artificial barriers, the reforestation of riverbanks with native species, and the improvement of ecological connectivity contribute to increasing biodiversity, improving water quality, and protecting communities from extreme weather events.

According to the National River Restoration Strategy (ENRR), currently 60% of surface water bodies in Spain are in good ecological condition. The goal for 2030 is to restore and reconnect 3,000 km of rivers, an ambitious goal that is part of global environmental strategies such as the European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy.

The International Day of Action for Rivers is an opportunity to reflect on the need to restore and protect these essential ecosystems. With the active participation of governments, organizations, companies and citizens, it is possible to reverse the deterioration of our rivers and guarantee a more sustainable and resilient future for all.