News

Become river ambassador in the Blue Heart interactive map

 09.10.2015

We want to visualize a network of initiatives and people who fight for rivers in the Balkans. For this purpose we have created a “River Ambassadors” layer in the interactive map on this website. We would like to add you as well! If you want to be included, please send us the following information:

STOP Mokrice dam! Hydropower project in Slovenia violates legislation

 08.10.2015

++ Hydropower project in Slovenia violates domestic and international legislation and threatens rare flora and fauna ++ International and Slovenian NGOs call on the Minister of Environment to reject the project – NGOs prepare EU complaint ++

120 river conservationists from 18 countries at the Balkan Rivers Days

 30.09.2015

During the past weekend, Belgrade became the center of European river conservationists and dam opponents. From September 25th-27th, 120 people from 18 countries discussed how to stop the dam tsunami in the Balkans and in other regions in Europe.

Campaign brochure now available!

 28.09.2015

Download our campaign brochure and enjoy stunning photos and insightful information. DOWNLOAD HERE

Update of HPPs on the Balkan Rivers now available!

 23.09.2015

In a follow-up study of the initial "Hydromorphological Status and Dam Projects" study from 2012 (U. Schwarz), we included small hydropower plants as well, when previously only those over 1 MW were recorded. A total of 2,683 future hydropower projects have been recorded on the Balkan Peninsula.  Additionally, 714 existing dams were found in this region.

Blue Heart of Europe in the Berliner Zeitung

 18.08.2015

An article in the renowned Berliner Zeitung reports about the uniqueness of the natural landscape in the Balkan, about the threat due to hydropower development, as well as about our campaign to save Balkan Rivers. Sorry, in German only: Das Blaue Herz Europas

Three new insect species discovered in Macedonia

++ Previously unknown caddisfly and stonefly species discovered in Mavrovo National Park. Species endangered due to hydropower development. ++ One doesn’t have to travel to the Amazonas or descent to the depths of the sea in order to discover new species. A closer look at the Balkans is enough.

Vjosa Day in Tirana - Video Impressions

Within the context of the Blue Heart campaign, EcoAlbania oraganized the “Vjosa Day” on June 6, 2015 in a pedestrian area in Tirana. It was the closing event of the “Vjosa Tour” – series of meetings with local communities of the Vjosa valley. Watch the video impressions below. Photos can be found in the gallery.

Video: One for the River – The Vjosa Story

 29.07.2015

Watch this incredible documentary about kayaking the Vjosa - one of the last wild rivers in Europe - from its source in Greece to its mouth into the Adriatic Sea in Albania. Thank you Leeway Collective for these stunning impressions and for raising awareness about the beauty and value of this spectacular river!

Hydropower plants in Una National Park halted

 27.07.2015

The Bihać City Council has stopped the construction of two small hydropower plants in the Una National Park in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The projected plants Martin Brod and Dobrenica undermine the very idea of a national park as protected area and would destroy one of the most magnificent rivers in the Sava River Basin.  

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