News | Save the Blue Heart of Europe

Rivers in the Green Deal

The EU Commission has now presented its 2030 biodiversity strategy within the Green Deal. It includes the target of restoring at least 25,000 kilometers of rivers. We welcome these guidelines; however, this only makes sense if the destruction of rivers is stopped at the same time.

Wed, 05/27/2020 - 14:16

ProtectWater

Crowdfunding: Let’s make Kutë GO Solar!

We need your help: Threatened in their livelihood by a proposed dam on the Vjosa, the village of Kutë in Albania – one of the most sun-kissed countries in Europe – wants to show that the destruction of Europe’s last wild river is not even necessary. They can produce their own energy on their roofs, creating more income for the community.

Tue, 05/26/2020 - 10:12

Vjosa

NEW DATE: European Rivers Summit 2021

The 2^nd edition of the European Rivers Summit, held in Lisbon, has been postponed due to COVID19. SAVE THE NEW DATE: May 20-22, 2021. Join us and hundreds of activists and specialists to share knowledge, network and talk about rivers protection, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the World. To get all further updates on the European Rivers Summit (ERS) Lisbon 2020 go to riverssummit.org

Tue, 05/26/2020 - 10:00

Campaign Events

New Vjosa-Aoos Studies

On her first 70 km, the Vjosa flows through Greece territory and is called Aoos. The last 20 km towards the border with Albania remain unprotected. These two studies commissioned by Pindos Perivallontiki provide evidence of the region’s biological importance as well as the need for a transboundary Wild River National Park and show that further development of hydropower is not necessary to reach the RES development goals.

Mon, 05/18/2020 - 12:43

Study

Update: nature destruction in times of pandemic

++ Residents block illegal construction of hydropower plants in Bosnia and Herzegovina ++ Today, residents and environmental activists blocked construction works on the river Bjelava and its tributary, the Mala Bjelava, despite the ban on assembly and Corona-related curfew. From 7 am, about two dozen people prevented workers from reaching the construction site. Unable to resume their works, they eventually left.

Wed, 04/29/2020 - 16:30

BiH Rivers

Key Area

Increasing destruction of nature in times of pandemic – expansion of hydropower under protection of curfew

++ Investors exploit the corona crisis for illegal construction of hydropower plants ++ Unique rivers in the Balkans at risk! ++ While Europe is in lockdown, investors are increasingly taking advantage of the unusual situation to build controversial hydropower projects in secret.

Thu, 04/23/2020 - 09:10

Press Release

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Time of the Huchen

Late March and early April is the time of the Huchen. It is the period when this fascinating species spawns in gravel rich, free-flowing rivers. The Balkan rivers, like the Sava, Drina, Una, Sana, Kupa, are the last stronghold of this globally threatened species. However, the following photos were recently taken in the Mank, a small river in Austria by Erhard Kraus.

Mon, 03/30/2020 - 15:46

Huchen

Biodiversity

Complaint against Serbia submitted to Energy Community

++ NGOs submit a complaint to the Energy Community against Serbia on the basis of its failure to fully assess the environmental impacts of small hydropower before their construction ++ The four NGOs are raising concerns about how Serbia decides whether or not an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is needed for small hydropower projects (<2 MW) prior to their development.

Fri, 03/13/2020 - 14:15

Serbia

Energy Community

Albanian and international science community stands up against damming the Vjosa river

++ One of the largest science petitions in global freshwater ecology calls to stop Vjosa dam projects in Albania ++ Scientists demand Albanian government to respect scientific standards in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Kalivaç hydropower project ++

Mon, 02/17/2020 - 11:02

Vjosa

Science

Press Release

Scientists for Vjosa - Videos

The international and Albanian freshwater science community raise their voices to warn of the severe consequences of the proposed dams on the Vjosa (and her tributaries). Listen to the many aspects of concern, including erosion of the coastline, loss of biodiversity, threat of dam break due to earthquake-prone area, loss of economic income and many more. Will the Albanian government listen to science?

Tue, 02/11/2020 - 13:18

Video

Vjosa

Science