National Rivers Month: Why Rivers Matter

June is National Rivers Month, a month dedicated to education about rivers, their importance, and how we can keep them clean and thriving. 

"Rivers are the arteries of our planet; they are lifelines in the truest sense." 

- Mark Angelo 

Giant River Otters (Peru). Photo by Kristen Martyn. 

Freshwater lakes and rivers account for less than 1% of all of the water on the planet’s surface, yet provide habitat for a truly massive amount of species. 

Rivers breath life into wetlands, which are invaluable life systems. These wetlands then:

• Provide fresh water by naturally filtering out pollutants 
• Provide food and shelter to a MASSIVE amount of species worldwide: over 40% of the world's species live in wetlands 
• In Ontario, many of our species at risk (20%) also inhabit wetlands and need them to survive.
• Protect against erosion and flooding by absorbing millions of gallons of water
• Protect against climate change by absorbing and storing atmospheric carbon, which can occur in peatlands, mangroves, salt marshes and more. 

You can read our full blog on why wetlands are crucial here. 

Right in our own backyards, Oak Ridges Moraine contains the headwaters of many rivers and aquatic habitats, housing more than 65 rivers and streams.These rivers provide important habitat, food source, and migratory routes for a huge number of species ranging from birds to mammals. Multiple Species at Risk use these routes for migration, including the Spiny Softshell Turtle. 

During winter months, moving water can remain unfrozen, providing a water source and access to food for numerous species - Belted Kingfishers will often stay if they have access to open water. 

Belted Kingfisher. Photo by Leanne Leblanc. 

Rivers not only support biodiversity in a big way, they provide for us as well. Rivers offer opportunities for fishing and other recreational activities such as canoeing. 

How You Can Help

1. Support Local Conservation Organizations: such as Oak Ridges Moraine, who are actively protecting land and rivers that hold imperative resources to support biodiversity 
2. Help Keep Rivers Clean: Keeping rivers clean of harmful objects that could negatively impact biodiversity matters. Read our former blog on protecting birds from plastic pollution, that outlines some easy swaps to limiting the amount of plastic that ends up in our environment 
3. Plant Native Trees and Shrubs: their roots absorb and filter pollutants from rain water. Need some ideas? Here are 10 Native Plants For Your Garden. 
4. Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly

Rivers breathe life into our world, provide crucial habitat, migratory routes, and food sources for a vast number of species. They are worth appreciating, and certainly protecting. 

Warmly, 

Heather