RIVERS TO OCEANS
Rivers to Oceans is undertaking a comprehensive investigation into the state of rivers in South Africa, highlighting various sources of pollution and their impact on the environment. By examining factors such as formal and informal settlements, sewage, chemical spills, mining activities, construction and development, landfills, dumpsites, and plastic pollution, they aim to raise awareness about the threats facing freshwater ecosystems.
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To fully comprehend what is happening to our Oceans we need to understand what is happening on land and what is going into the water, into our rivers and why.
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The initiative rightly emphasizes the interconnectedness of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, stressing the importance of understanding land-based activities and their influence on water quality and ultimately on ocean health.
"World's Rivers and Streams Leak a Lot of Carbon Dioxide. The researchers calculated that all the planet's inland waters contribute about 2.1 gigatonnes of carbon to the atmosphere each year. Rivers and streams, which cover some 241,000 square miles (624,000 square kilometers) of the Earth, release about 1.8 gigatonnes of carbon each year" - Smithsonian Mag.
The quote from Smithsonian Magazine about the significant contribution of rivers and streams to carbon emissions underscores the importance of addressing river pollution not only for local ecosystems but also for global climate considerations.
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The concern about failing sewage infrastructure and the proliferation of plastic pollution in South Africa's rivers is valid, as these issues can have detrimental effects on water quality, aquatic life, and human health. By highlighting these concerns, Rivers to Oceans is advocating for improved waste management practices and the implementation of policies to mitigate pollution from various sources.
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Some people might consider all tributaries of a river system to be part of that river, while others might only count the main stem. According to the United States Geological Survey, there are over three million rivers in the world. Understanding the sheer number and diversity of rivers worldwide underscores the importance of preserving these vital freshwater resources.
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"Rivers to Oceans" is a valuable initiative in raising awareness about the importance of river conservation and the need for global cooperation to address the challenges facing freshwater ecosystems and the oceans they feed into.
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Studies have found that 10 rivers are carrying 90% of the plastic entering the oceans. Two of them are in Africa - the Nile and the Niger - while the others are in Asia: the Indus, Ganges, Amur, Mekong, Pearl, Hai he, Yellow and Yangtze.
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Not to mention the thousands of other rivers contributing the 10% of the remaining plastic pollution. Human activities have imperiled our waterways along with almost one-third of freshwater fish and many other aquatic species.
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“Nowhere is the biodiversity crisis more acute than in freshwater ecosystems.”
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Rivers, lakes and inland wetlands cover 1% of the Earth but provide homes for 10% of all its species, including one-third of all vertebrates. And many of those species are imperiled — some 27% of the nearly 30,000 freshwater species so far assessed by the IUCN Red List. This includes nearly one-third of all freshwater fish.
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One of the single largest threats to river biodiversity comes from dams, which provide humans with electricity, water reserves and other benefits but come with ecological costs. The loss of free-flowing rivers divides watersheds into unconnected fragments and changes water flow, quality and temperature.
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Some waterways remain a dumping ground for toxic chemicals, even decades after various threats were identified. Others face new threats from pharmaceuticals that pass through water treatment facilities (after passing through our bladders) and accumulate in the bodies of aquatic animals.
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The nutrients we use on farms and livestock operations also wash into rivers and streams. That runoff, full of nitrogen and phosphorus, fuels an overgrowth of algae which deprive the waters of oxygen, driving away or killing marine life in so-called “dead zones.”
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The effects of climate warming are already being felt around the world, with rivers drying up. Warming temperatures can also exacerbate droughts, limiting water for drinking, irrigation and maintaining healthy flows in rivers and streams to support wildlife.
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Rivers do not have enough protection. Laws and regulations need to be in place and funding for river-conservation programs must be made available. Efforts to establish legal “personhood” for rivers haven’t gained much traction however like everything else rivers are worth advocating for.
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RESEARCH • CONSERVATION • PROTECTION
AWARENESS • EDUCATION • RESPECT
"CARING FOR OUR OCEANS"
"STRONGER TOGETHER"
"CHANGING LIVES"