Victory for Nature: The Rzav River (BiH) Flows Free!

Great news: the Rzav River will continue to flow freely!  Thanks to the determination of local citizens the Government of the Republic of Srpska officially terminated concession contracts for two hydropower plants on the Black and White Rzav Rivers. This follows years of protests that successfully stopped the construction of seven small hydropower plants, ensuring the river’s protection.

Following this, activities were undertaken to secure the legal protection of the Rzav River and its canyon, a region of extraordinary ecological value. The Rzav and its canyon are ecological treasures, home to the critically endangered Danube salmon (huchen) and many other species. This year’s Biologer Camp highlighted the area’s rich biodiversity and reinforced calls to designate the Rzav canyon as a protected nature park, as outlined in the Republic of Srpska’s spatial plan.

This success demonstrates the power of citizen action. With all planned hydropower projects now halted, the Rzav remains free—a lifeline for nature and local communities alike!