Focusing on the activity, rivers have always played an essential role in civilizations, offering water and food besides being avenues of transportation.
But sad to say, many of these precious gifts called rivers that cross the face of the earth are polluted, overexploited, and neglected. In the present day, the particular focus has been shifted to the processes of the revival and the subsequent restoration of these extraordinary and essential waterways so that they are sustainable in the future.
This paper focuses on the different approaches to river revival, chiefly the fight against pollution. Polluted water from industries, farming, and raw sewage has contributed greatly to the pollution of many rivers.
Measures to clean up these pollutants consist of enhanced legislative standards, better waste control, and enhanced water technology. Social campaigns and clean-up efforts are also instrumental in the prevention of pollution of water sources and the general improvement of ecosystems within rivers.
Another important element of the revival is the recreation of the natural landscapes along the river’s bank. For many years now, as people grew their cities and their farms, the protective wetlands, forests, and other barriers were drained or filled, leaving many rivers vulnerable.
Habitats of wildlife such as forests, wetlands, green corridors, and others are being restored through reforestation and restoration of wetlands, among others. They play a role in increasing biological diversity, protecting the resources of riparian lands from eroding, and enhancing water quality.
Replanting native species is another process that is critical when it comes to the restoration of rivers. Habitat destruction, pollution, and invasions of non-native fish and wildlife species have drastically reduced the populations of many rivers.
Increased attempts at restocking native species and controlling or eradicating invasive species compensate for the recovery of healthy and diverse ecosystems.
The exploitation of rivers also has great social and economic returns. Economically, clean and healthy rivers are major sources of recreation and therefore improve the aesthetics of a certain region, act as avenues for fisheries, and are major players in the tourist industry.
Moreover, these rivers bring balance to climate change because they have the effect of balancing floods and droughts.