Two years after its landmark designation in March 2023 as Europe’s first Wild River National Park, the Vjosa River is under continuous pressure from extractive industries, infrastructure expansion, and mismanaged development, putting the park’s ecological integrity and its global conservation value at risk.

The Komarnica River will continue to flow freely through its eponymous canyon - at least for the time being. The project has been temporarily halted, but not cancelled.

The lack of required ecological flow from a hydropower dam in the Greek section of the Aoos/Vjosa River is endangering a unique and fragile ecosystem. A new scientific study underscores the urgent need to establish a minimum flow regime to restore the river’s ecological functions and safeguard its rich biodiversity.

Delayed environmental review and decision-making raise serious concerns over transparency and governance. Procedural failures and legal shortcuts undermine public trust in Montenegro’s environmental commitments.

POSTPONED: From June 6-8, river defenders will once again gather at Komarnica for a pivotal edition of the Camp on Komarnica. This year's gathering carries special significance, as the campaign to protect the Komarnica River approaches a crucial decision point from the Environmental Protection Agency.

On 21 April 2025, Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika received the renowned 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize. The prize is endowed with 200,000 USD.  They were given the prize for their indispensable commitment to igniting a social movement to establish the Vjosa Wild River National Park, the first of its kind in Europe.

Join us for this webinar to get the newest updates on the Save the Blue Heart of Europe Campaign, dive into the results of the Sarantaporos Science Week 2024 and learn how scientific arguments contribute to the protection of highly intact river systems.

Despite a proposed Nature Protection Law that would ban small hydropower plants in protected areas in North Macedonia, delays have allowed destructive projects to continue—threatening national parks and violating international conservation commitments. What’s standing in the way of stronger protections?

The battle to preserve the pristine Komarnica Canyon in Montenegro has reached a critical stage. Check out the latest updates and learn how you can get involved.  

The Serbian organisation for political ecology, Polekol, has submitted a complaint to the Bern Convention, warning that the construction of the small hydroelectric power plant Gradina on the Studenica River will jeopardise protected habitats and species of international significance.