News - Key Area

Paddling against the dam tsunami

++ Grand kayak tour to save the Balkan Rivers starts today ++  Today, about 150 paddler are opening the Balkan Rivers Tour on the Sava river in Slovenia. Led by former Slovenian Olympic athlete Rok Rozman, kayakers from all over Europe will paddle the most stunning and most threatened rivers in the Balkans over the next 35 days. This is without par in Europe. With this tour, they are taking a clear stance against the imminent dam tsunami.

European Parliament criticizes Albanian government for hydropower projects at the Vjosa and in protected areas

 15.04.2016

Tirana, Vienna, Radolfzell, April 15, 2016 Today, the European Parliament criticized the Albanian government for the planning of hydropower projects and called upon them to be more considerate of protected areas and other sensitive nature areas, especially national parks. In the current Enlargement Report that was adopted by the parliament in Brussel yesterday, the Vjosa river is specifically mentioned.

Petition: Stop HPPs on Valbona River!

 09.02.2016

Another Albanian river at risk: the beautiful Valbona river is facing the construction of several planned hydropower plants along its course, not stopping at national parks and other strictly protected area - as so often the case. Local communities are protesting and need your help: please sign and share the petition addressed to Prime Minister Edi Rama!

Film Screening: The Vjosa Story in Tirana

 15.01.2016

On January 22, the documentary “The Vjosa Story” by our river ambassadors from Leeway Collective will be screened in Tirana, Albania. It is an 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. Don’t miss this opportunity to watch this amazing film on a big screen!

New hope for Balkan Rivers: World Bank drops funding for hydropower project in Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia

++ Other financiers must follow suit ++ The World Bank withdrew its funding for one of the two big hydropower projects inside MavrovoNational Park in Macedonia.  

Stage win for nature protection: Bern Convention demands provisional stop for the construction of HPPs in Mavrovo NP in Macedonia

++ EBRD and World Bank shall withdraw from projects – further assessment requested ++

New Hope for Mavrovo National Park

++ 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 ++

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!

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