News

NEWS: Is the EBRD pulling out of Mavrovo NP?

 20.02.2015

Today, the Guardian published a detailed report about the situation of the Balkan Rivers. In it, the newspaper reports that the EBRD is likely to pull out of hydro project in the Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia, one of our key areas in the campaign. Read the full article which was published in the Guardian today, Feb 20: Balkan dam boom threatens Europe’s last wild waterways

Vjosa in Albania: Municipalities of Përmet and Çarshovë want National Park instead of dams

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.

Case against Macedonia

European Convention on Nature Conservation investigates hydropower projects in Mavorovo National Park. The Standing Committee of the Bern Convention is initiating proceedings against Macedonia due to the projected construction of hydropower plants in the Mavrovo National Park. A group of experts appointed by the Standing Committee will investigate whether the projects violate the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.

NGO Protest: Sava River at Risk

 01.12.2014

Zagreb, Vienna, Radolfzell, December 1, 2014 In an open letter, fifteen environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) protest against the intention of the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC) to adopt a management plan for the Sava River basin. This management plan is based on misleading and false data; it is violating EU legislation and risking the future of the Sava – one of the most valuable river ecosystems in Europe.

Double Award for Balkan Rivers

 17.11.2014

Big honour for the Balkan Rivers: On Friday night, the campaign “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” received two awards in Vaduz. Next to grand prize winner Ulrich Eichelmann, EuroNatur president Christel Schroeder was also awarded with a Binding Prize.

Ulrich Eichelmann receives international environmental award

 14.11.2014

Last night, Riverwatch CEO Ulrich Eichelmann and coordinator of the Blue Heart of Europe campaign was awarded one of the most significant environmental awards of Europe, the “Great Binding Prize for Nature Conservation”, in Vaduz/Liechtenstein. He received this honor for his international commitment to the protection of rivers.

“The last refugium of the Balkan Lynx“ in the Neue Zürcher Newspaper

 12.11.2014

In his article “The last refugium of the Balkan Lynx”, the Swiss journalist Andreas Ernst reports about the critical situation on site, the chicanery of the authorities, as well as the commitment of dam opponents...

Balkan Rivers Trailer now online!

 31.10.2014

Next spring, we will present a 15-20 minutes documentary about the Balkan Rivers – their uniqueness and threats. Sneak a peek and watch the trailer!  Please tell your friends!

Hydropower plant in Mavrovo National Park twice as expensive as projected

Skopje, October 21, 2014 The controversial hydropower project Boskov Most inside the Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia is estimated to be twice as expensive as originally projected. This will be one of the topics discussed at today’s meeting of NGOs with members of the Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The NGOs demand the bank’s withdrawal from hydro projects in the national park.

Vacancy: National Campaign Coordinator HR

 20.10.2014

One of the key areas in our campaign is the Sava River, which has been under high anthropogenic pressure. The international coordination team is in a partnership with the Croatian Society for Bird and Nature Protection for the protection of the Croatian Sava. To supplement the Team Sava, the coordination team is currently looking for a national coordinator for Croatia and countries downstream (Bosnia&Herzegovina and Serbia).

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