Less than 1 percent of the water supply on earth can be used as drinking water, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. World Water Day focuses on the importance of that 1 percent.
This year’s theme is ‘nature for water,’ which explores nature-based solutions (NBS) for the water challenges faced in the 21st century. The day’s campaign, ‘The answer is in nature,’ exists to raise awareness of NBS such as planting trees to replenish forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains and restoring wetlands.
Read how Texas A&M staff and students are using nature to help water challenges by:
- Promoting private land stewardship
- Educating landowners about riparian and stream restoration
- Proving the effectiveness of low impact development practices
- Restoring a coastal marsh
- Replanting trees along the flood-ravaged Blanco River
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly designated March 22, 1993, as the first World Water Day, an international observance and an opportunity to learn more about water-related issues and take action.