(Originally published by Rivers are Life as an introduction to their first annual Year-In-Review and Impact Report.)
Looking Back, Aiming Forward
We made it. One year has passed since Rivers are Life was created to help bring awareness to our planet's waterways and the people working to protect them, and what a year it has been.
In July of 2022, Rivers are Life launched as a collective of stories. We produced films that captured the passion and power of those we call River Heroes. Our mission was simple - to amplify theirs - and it remains the same today.
By sharing the initial series of narratives, we banked on the idea that inspiration is contagious. With every message amplified, we were wonderstruck by all the work being done in watersheds around the world and hoped that in highlighting these efforts, the people leading the way might be able to accomplish even more.
The more we learned about these vastly varying individuals and organizations, we realized their work was just as diverse as the river systems themselves.
This work seemed not only meaningful, but necessary, as freshwater ecosystems, some of the most biodiverse environments on the planet, are also the most threatened. In fact, freshwater species populations have declined by 83% since the 1970s according to recent reports. 1
With all of this in mind, we sought out more stories and more ways to support.
We are committed to supporting 1,000 Projects: locally-led initiatives that seek to address river-related threats, including plastic pollution, ecosystem protection, misinformation, and more.
Rivers are Life grew, and grew quickly. In fact, we are still growing. Our list of River Heroes continues to expand and we hope to encourage and empower these Heroes even more moving forward, seeking out new and better ways to support them. In doing so, we are working to define exactly what we are and how we function.
Our team continues to explore the best way to take these stories off-screen, encouraging meaningful actions in the name of rivers led by those who know them best. We're also committed to operating in the most sustainable, responsible way possible. As we take big steps to strategize how to do just that, we're hopeful that by this time next year, our impact will be even more substantial.
There's an old adage that says,
"You never step in the same river twice."
Rivers are real, ever-flowing embodiments of the idea that the only real constant in life is change. It is by this ethos that we not only embrace change within the Rivers are Life movement but aim for it. We're going with the flow, so to speak, and trusting that if we paddle along with it, it will take us exactly where we need to be.
With gratitude from the entire Rivers are Life team,
Julia Regeski
Rivers are Life Impact Manager
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