NERETVA SCIENCE WEEK

28th of June - 3rd of July, 2022

A 6-day long event with a diverse team of biologists, ecologists and environmental scientists, that follow...
THE MISSION to contribute to protecting rivers as knowledgeable experts and scientists, with...
THE AIM of collecting data and increasing visibility for a unique river system, by...
THE APPROACH of concentrating relevant expertises in an inspiring collaborative field campaign.

THE SCIENCE WEEK...

is a follow up of two successful science weeks at the Vjosa in Albania in 2017 and 2021 and it is part of the Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign. A diverse team of over 40 biologists, ecologists and environmental scientists will gather with the common mission of contributing to protecting rivers. They plan to do this by collecting data to showcase what is at risk when a unique river is threatened by hydropower development. They concentrate their relevant expertises in an inspiring collaborative field campaign and invite you to join to address the public.

THE NERETVA RIVER IS...

is a 230 km long river flowing through Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia before its confluence with the Adriatic Sea. While larger parts of the river network are already reservoirs, the upper “Gorni Neretva” and its tributaries can still be considered free- flowing. Here, the river constitutes the heart of a karstic valley widely regarded as a natural heritage of regional significance. This part of the river is threatened with the construction of at least 25 new dams. Now is a critical moment to collect data to provide evidence of what is at risk if hydropower development continues in this valley, and increase public visibility of these valuable ecosystems.

SCIENCE MEETS ART AND CUISINE

In addition to the 40+ scientists that will be active during the science week, we have invited an artist from Sarajevo to join the event. During participatory sessions with the scientists, he will capture the findings of the scientists, as well as the atmosphere, in beautiful graphics.
Secondly, Levente Koppány, a chef de cuisine will join us to cook for all participants during one of the evenings. Levente was recently a finalist chef on a young chef competition in Milano.
Last but not least, on Friday evening, there will be live music!

LOGISTICS

The Science week will last for 6 days between June 28th and July 3rd, 2022. The basecamp from June 28th until July 2nd will be in Ulog town. On July 2nd, we move the basecamp to Hitko rafting's place near Glavatičevo. Both Ulog and Glavatičevo are located 2 hours drive from Sarajevo.
Accommodation will be arranged in the form of a place to camp. If camping is not an option for you, please let us know and we will try to arrange a place in a room, probably someone’s house.
Breakfast and dinner are included and you can bring some personal snacks to eat during the day.

PROVISIONAL PROGRAM

The below program is provisional. It describes the main research locations of the scientists. Some will choose to go their independent ways, depending on the needs for their work.

Tue, June 28
Evening of Welcome and Introductions
Basecamp: Ulog

Wed, June 29
Research Locations: Krupac Confluence
Optional Locations: Hike/drive up to the source and/or follow the river downstream towards Old wooden bridge
Basecamp: Ulog

Thu, June 30
Research Locations: Cerova, Ulogski Buk
Optional Locations: Walk from Cerova to Ulogski Buk/Ulog
Food by Chef de Cuisine and Music Night with live band
Basecamp: Ulog

Fri, July 1
Research Locations: Swimming Beach, Nedavic
Optional Locations: Jezernica or Ljuta
Basecamp: Ulog

Sat, July 2
Move Basecamp to Glavatičevo
Research Locations: Brijestov Bridge (on the way)
Optional Locations: Jasenica (on the way), Tajoraft, Hitko rafting
Basecamp: Glavatičevo (Hitko Rafting)

Sun, July 3
Move Basecamp to Glavatičevo
Research Locations: Brijestov Bridge (on the way)
Optional Locations: Jasenica (on the way), Tajoraft, Hitko rafting
Basecamp: Glavatičevo (Hitko Rafting)

Further information on the research locations can be found on this digital map. Feel free to explore! It also contains information on the planned dams.

THE SCIENCE WEEK IS ORGANISED...

as part of the Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign, which calls for scientists to which calls for scientists to help protecting important rivers, to assess data and also to speak up for saving the free flowing rivers against dam projects on the Balkans. It follows the model of the Vjosa Science Weeks (see this video for an impression) and hopes to engage local as well as international scientists in research on the Neretva and surrounding rivers, for this week, and in the long run.

For more information contact:

Roxanne Diaz
Communication for the Save the Blue Heart of Europe Campaign
roxanne.diaz@euronatur.org

Gabriel Singer
Lead scientist Neretva Science Week
University of Innsbruck
gabriel.singer@uibk.ac.at

Sandra Josović
Communication for Center of Environment, BiH
sandra.josovic@czzs.org

Vera Knook
Scientists for Balkan Rivers Coordinator
scientists@balkanrivers.net