Davao City, Philippines: The Nature Watch Club, a school-based organization of Ateneo de Davao University, celebrates World Rivers Day through a tree planting activity in the banks of Davao river. The group planted 100 trees along the riverbanks at Sta. Marina, Tigatto, Davao City.

World Rivers day is an annual celebration of the world?s waterways. It aims to encourage active involvement of the people in their responsibility of protecting the rivers in their locality. This activity started in 2005 during the launching of the Water for Life Decade by the United Nations to help create awareness in taking care of water resources around the globe.

Davao river is the largest river in Davao City, one of the largest cities in the world. Its full length is 160 km and has an average width of 60-90 meters. It is also one of the 91 river basins under the Hydrology for the Environment, Life and Policy (HELP) UNESCO operating in 67 countries. The river forms part of the city?s rich history as indigenous tribes settle around its banks and make use of its surrounding resources.

Behind its fruitful history also lies tragedy as the river has also caused extreme flooding in some of its riverside villages in Jade Valley and Juliville Subdivision due to its locations being oxbow lakes, which means that these villages previously form part of Davao river. Thus, numerous groups like the Nature Watch Club do their best to mitigate this chain reaction of unwanted events.