We are happy to inform you about the Balkan Rivers Conference in September 2015 – the first event of this kind in Europe! Please mark the dates in your calendar! Organized within the context of the Save the Blue Heart of Europe Campaign, it shall be a first get-together of river NGOs, initiatives, anti-dam movements, fishermen and other river lovers from all over the Balkans and elsewhere.

150 people discuss the future of the river - parliamentarians will be informed. On Wednesday and Thursday the first public discussions about the future of the Vjosa Valley took place in Çarshovë and Përmet in southern Albania. While  the government envisages the construction of eight dams along the river, the mayors and people of the affected communities support the alternative idea of establishing a national park.

Vienna, Radolfzell, August 21, 2014. In the context of the Days of Biodiversity – an initiative of the German GEO magazine – a remarkable field research event took place at the Vjosa river in Albania in mid-June. Results will be published in the latest issue of the GEO magazine, which will be available on August 22.

Between June 13th-15th, the Geo Days of Biodiversity took place at the Vjosa River in Albania. Of the more than 400 species identified, ten percent are classified as threatened, rare or endemic, many of which are protected by international conventions according to IUCN and the Albanian Red List.

Watch this video about the GEO Days of Biodiversity at the Vjosa (June 12-15).

Vienna, Radolfzell, June 26, 2014. The World Bank Country Unit for Southeast Europe based in Vienna had unusual visitors this morning. Representatives of the environmental NGO Riverwatch handed over a letter of protest - signed by 77,930 people - against the proposed funding of a hydroelectric dam in the Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia. 

Vienna, 10.6.2014. In cooperation with the German GEO magazine, a remarkable event will take place along the Vjosa River in Albania from June 13-15. For three days, 50 to 60 experts will range the Vjosa’s riparian zone and study its animal and plant species.

Tepelena, Radolfzell, May 8, 2014. An unusual press conference is taking place in Albania today. On the gravel islands of the Vjosa River – the last big wild river in Europe – representatives of international and national environmental groups come together with the local mayor and business people in order to propose an idea to save the Vjosa

For years, the projected construction of several hydropower plants in the Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia has been a controversially discussed issue on an international level. Up to now, discussions have mostly been held behind closed doors. We would like to change that. On April 10, we will host the first public conference on the future of Mavrovo National Park at which both opponents and proponents will be speaking. We are glad to invite you to this event.

Vienna, Radolfzell, March 20, 2014. As a contribution to this year’s UN World Water Day (22.3.) on the topic of “Water and Energy”, EuroNatur and Riverwatch draw attention to the impending destruction of rivers on the Balkan Peninsula. Disguised as green sources of energy, more than 570 hydropower plants (> 1 MW) are planned to be built between Slovenia and Albania.