News

Videos: Beautiful Langarica at Risk

 06.05.2015

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....

European Parliament criticizes Albania’s hydropower policies

++ 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”.

Video: The Vjosa at a Crossroad - ORF coverage

 04.05.2015

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

Small Hydro: how beautiful is small?

 21.04.2015

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.

Big Jump: Raise your voice for some of the last remaining wild rivers of Europe

 27.03.2015

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

Impressions and media coverage of our latest campaign events

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

Study confirms: The Heart of the Huchen beats on the Balkans

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.

Save the Date: Balkan Rivers Conference in September 2015

 18.03.2015

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.

The Vjosa River at a Crossroad – Dam Tsunami or National Park?

NGOs uncover: 33 hydropower plants projected ++ Austrian and Italian companies involved ++ New initiative supports national park idea. Today, the international NGOs Riverwatch and EuroNatur, together with their local partner EcoAlbania, are presenting a paper, which for the first time reveals the full extent of the threat to the Vjosa catchment area.

Tirana Times: Protecting Vjosa, Europe’s last wild river

 11.03.2015

The Tirana Times published an interview with Ulrich Eichelmann about the Vjosa River, its threats, the alternative idea of a Vjosa National Park and the Blue Heart of Europe campaign. Read the interview here: Protecting Vjosa, Europe’s last wild river

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