The Project that Unites People around Rivers
THE RIVER PROJECT HISTORY
The "River Project" was launched in Catalonia by the Associació Habitats para Projecte Rius Catalunya (AHPRC) in 1997, and since then, it has proven to be a success. Currently, in Spain, the "River Project", with over 20 years of experience, conducts volunteer activities involving more than 1,000 groups in five Autonomous Communities.
In 2005, a protocol for its adoption and implementation in Portuguese territory was established between ASPEA - Portuguese Association of Environmental Education and the AHPRC.
Currently, through local partnerships, various entities in Portugal are involved in implementing the River Project nationwide. These entities include municipalities, parish, schools, associations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), institutes and research centers, companies, and informal groups.
THE RIVER PROJECT MISSION
The "River Project is an environmental volunteer and social participation project aimed at the conservation of river resources, seeking to align with the principles and objectives of Environmental Education and contribute to the implementation of the Earth Charter, the Treaty of Environmental Education for Sustainable and Global Responsibility, and the Water Framework Directive.
The implementation of this project aims to address the visible issue, both nationally and globally, related to the alteration and deterioration of river quality and the lack of effective involvement of users and the general population.
Through the methodology it employs, the "River Project" aims to promote scientific curiosity and implement the experimental scientific method by collecting and recording geographical, physico-chemical, biological, historical, social, and ethnographic information and data. This contributes to the improvement of the studied area, overall river quality, and the well-being of populations, with a view to meeting the requirements of the Water Framework Directive and Water Law.
THE MAIN IMPACTS
The main impact indicators of the "River Project" in Portugal in 2022:
- 313 km of adopted watercourses;
- 628 registered groups;
- 142 municipalities involved;
- 21,100 people engaged in monitoring campaigns;
- 1,615 teachers involved;
- 16,185 students involved;
- 829 monitors trained in 54 courses;
- 50,000 people involved in various activities.
FAMS GRANT APLICATION
Thanks to the FAM Grant, the "River Project" will improve the WebGIS, providing an online database with information about national rivers and streams. Access to this database will be made available to the entire community for free.
It is expected that the availability of this online platform, directly populated with data collected during monitoring campaigns, will encourage more citizens to participate in acquiring, recording, and sharing data. This will lead to a growing sense of belonging and a desire to make "their river" better known. This improvement will enable that everyone can participate in this voluntary, ongoing project that promotes public participation, involves the population, partners, and decision-makers simultaneously, with the aim of detecting problems and defining solutions for the improvement of local water resources.
FAM Foundation is committed with the sustainable development goals, Rios Project impact the following SGD's.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.