World Rivers Day

                                                                          “The river is my brother for it carries my canoe.”

                                                                                          ~ Native American Proverb

Source: https://proverbicals.com/river

Rivers are valuable world's waterways, but due to human activity they are endangered. World Rivers Day, annually celebrated on the last Sunday in September, was created to protect the rivers around the world.  It  highlights the many values of our rivers, strives to increase public awareness, and encourages the improved stewardship of all rivers around the world.

Wexford Environmental Network would like to invite you to celebrate our Wexford Rivers on the 26th September 2021.  Learn about the state of our rivers and what we can do about them.  Speakers from LAWPRO and WEN will explain how to find out information about your local river and what community groups, including how to start a river community group, can do to protect these waterways.  Seal Rescue Ireland will talk about their inspiring Habitat Restoration Project as part of their efforts to rehabilitate the rivers of Wexford.  The event will end on a celebratory note as we embrace community action to increase the biodiversity and health of our environment, starting with our local rivers.

Schedule for the event

5.00:  Welcome and Introductions

5:10: Introducing habitat restoration.  Jeshua Taucher, Seal Rescue Ireland, will talk about the inspiring work they are doing with their watershed restoration project.  Their aim is to plant 25,000 trees along the riverbanks (riparian buffers) to reduce the incidence of pollution from  agricultural runoff containing sediment, fertilisers, pesticides and other pollutants.  They work with local farmers to protect our waterways, sequester carbon and restore habitat throughout the Courtown Harbour water catchment, using a proven riparian restoration model.

5:30: Introducing the work of LAWPRO.  Ann Phelan, the Community Water Officer for the South East Region will explain the work of  the Local Authority Waters Programme or LAWPRO which was set up under the Water Framework Directive or WFD.   LAWPRO is working to identify the issues affecting water quality in Ireland and when they do, they collaborate with the relevant local authority, public body, and stakeholder to find a solution through a process known as the River Basin Management Plan (we are at the end of the 2nd cycle of this plan). Community engagement is the cornerstone of their approach which is to combine local and expert knowledge for a better understanding of what’s happening in a local catchment and waterbody.

5:50:  How to navigate the EPA Maps site. Natasha Ariff, WEN will give a demonstration on how to navigate the EPA Maps site and to find out more information about your local river

6:05: Starting a local river group.  Javier Vila, Friends of Johnstown's River Group will talk about his journey to set up the Johnstown River Group.

6:15: Brief Q&A with all speakers

6:30: Closing ceremony with cultural aspect