Zagreb, Vienna, Radolfzell, December 1, 2014 In an open letter, fifteen environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) protest against the intention of the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC) to adopt a management plan for the Sava River basin. This management plan is based on misleading and false data; it is violating EU legislation and risking the future of the Sava – one of the most valuable river ecosystems in Europe.

Big honour for the Balkan Rivers: On Friday night, the campaign “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” received two awards in Vaduz. Next to grand prize winner Ulrich Eichelmann, EuroNatur president Christel Schroeder was also awarded with a Binding Prize.

Last night, Riverwatch CEO Ulrich Eichelmann and coordinator of the Blue Heart of Europe campaign was awarded one of the most significant environmental awards of Europe, the “Great Binding Prize for Nature Conservation”, in Vaduz/Liechtenstein. He received this honor for his international commitment to the protection of rivers.

In his article “The last refugium of the Balkan Lynx”, the Swiss journalist Andreas Ernst reports about the critical situation on site, the chicanery of the authorities, as well as the commitment of dam opponents...

Next spring, we will present a 15-20 minutes documentary about the Balkan Rivers – their uniqueness and threats. Sneak a peek and watch the trailer!  Please tell your friends!

Skopje, October 21, 2014 The controversial hydropower project Boskov Most inside the Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia is estimated to be twice as expensive as originally projected. This will be one of the topics discussed at today’s meeting of NGOs with members of the Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The NGOs demand the bank’s withdrawal from hydro projects in the national park.

One of the key areas in our campaign is the Sava River, which has been under high anthropogenic pressure. The international coordination team is in a partnership with the Croatian Society for Bird and Nature Protection for the protection of the Croatian Sava. To supplement the Team Sava, the coordination team is currently looking for a national coordinator for Croatia and countries downstream (Bosnia&Herzegovina and Serbia).

The September print edition of the renowned German magazine GEO featured an article about the GEO Days of Biodiversity at the Vjosa River in Albania. Now, the article went online: Europas letzter wilder Fluss Since it is only available in German read a partial translation here:  

The renowned German environmental magazine natur published a 4-page article about the dam-tsunami on the Balkan Peninsula and our campaign in the three key areas. Sorry, in German only! Stab in the Blue Heart

Dams have in every case tremendous negative effects on the environment. Watch this interactive illustration of dams and their consequences… and how to solve the problems: Interactive Video