We are producing a short film about people who want to keep their rivers free from hydropower plants. We need your help for that! This is the idea: film yourself in front of a river that is threatened by a hydropower project while saying the following sentences: “This is (name of the river). I love my river and I don´t want it to be damed. Save the Blue Heart of Europe." Pleases say it both in English and in your native language.

++ 113 hydropower plants projected in national parks ++ Next Sunday, on May 24th, is the “European Day of Parks” – a day to celebrate protected areas in Europe and advertise their values and benefits. However, particularly on the Balkans there is little reason to celebrate. On the contrary, a recent study shows that 535 projects  are currently planned within strict nature conservation areas, 113 of which in the midst of national parks.

Ulrich Eichelmann (Riverwatch) takes you to the Bence River - a tributary of the Vjosa and one of the most beautiful and ecologically most valuable rivers in Albania. However, the river is threatened by the construction of a hydropower plant: 95% of its water ...

Ulrich Eichelmann (Riverwatch) takes you directly to a natural spring along the Langarica, a tributary to the Vjosa in Southern Albania. This natural treasure is under attack from hydropower projects. Within the context of the campaign, we are trying to protect this river amongst many others. From inside the thermal spring....

++ Stop of hydropower projects on the Vjosa and its tributaries demanded ++ Protest against hydropower projects in Albania. The European Parliament called upon the Albanian government to rethink the projected hydropower projects along the Vjosa River and its tributaries, “…since these projects would harm one of Europe’s last extensive, intact and near-natural river ecosystems”.

Coverage about the Vjosa Tour event in Selenica and the projected HPP on the Langarica (Vjosa tributary) on Austrian public service broadcaster ORF (ZIB2)

Is small hydropower greener than mega dams? Do they make sense economically? Watch this cartoon and find out about the many "benefits" of small hydropower developments.

On the occasion of this year’s World Water Day, the “Big Jump” initiative has introduced the “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” campaign and called for action: Raise your voice in solidarity for some of the last remaining wild rivers of Europe

Lots of things have happened in the campaign in the last couple of weeks. Visual impressions thereof are now available on our website!

Globally endangered fish species detected in 43 rivers on a length of 1,840 km ++ 1,000 km of which threatened by hydropower projects ++ campaign to stop dams. As a contribution to this year’s UN World Water Day (22.3.), representatives of the fields of science and fisheries in cooperation with environmental NGOs present a study about the distribution of the Huchen on the Balkan Peninsula.