++ Bern Convention’s international expert commission calls for halt to hydropower development in Mavrovo National Park, Macedonia ++ EBRD and World Bank shall withdraw from financing hydropower projects in the National Park ++

Between September 24th and 27th, Belgrade became the center of European river conservationists and dam opponents. From September, 120 people from 18 countries discussed how to stop the dam tsunami in the Balkans and in other regions in Europe. Now the official video of the event is available. Enjoy! Find also an extensive gallery HERE. 

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:

++ 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 ++

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.

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

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.

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

++ 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.

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.