Scientists for Balkan Rivers

Scientists are important allies in our mission to protect Balkan rivers. The scientists of this network focus their research on Balkan rivers to provide biological data for legal cases against hydropower projects. These experts not only lend their data but also their independent voices to protect rivers.

From 22 to 28 April 2024, a delegation of 40 scientists collected multidisciplinary data in the partially undiscovered and intact Vjosa Delta. Followed by national and international journalists, the science week brought this special place to the attention of a global audience, as it faces imminent threats. We will use the data collected during the week to stop all destructive plans on this unique place in legal proceedings and advocate for its permanent inclusion into the Vjosa Wild River National Park. Joshua D. Lim

A team of 70 scientists from 17 countries were accompanied by journalists, photographers, activists, and artists. Altogether, around 100 people gathered in the small town Ulog, to contribute to the conservation of the Neretva River system. Scientists explored different areas on and around the river and its tributaries, to get a deeper understanding of specific habitats and point to threatened places A socio-cultural team studied the social values of the Neretva, what the river means to locals and also to scientists. Joshua D. Lim

The Neretva Science Week: 50 scientists, seven days, one river, one goal! From 27 June to 3 July 2022, scientists, several journalists, activists, chefs the cuisine and one artist from across Europe participated in a science week on the Neretva River in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the multidisciplinary expedition, the scientists studied and collected samples of the local biodiversity. We will use the data collected during the week to stop hydropower projects on this magical river in legal proceedings. Joshua D. Lim

Groundwater: Making the invisible visible! Groundwater is where we source most of our fresh drinking water. Of similar importance, without groundwater, rivers would run dry and face a deterioration of water quality and ecosystem health. In this video, Dr Christian Griebler, professor of limnology at the University of Vienna in Austria, is seen conducting research in the tributaries of the Vjosa River in Albania. He explains a little bit more about these ‘working-class heroes’ and why it is important we protect them. Joshua D. Lim

Science week 2021 at the Vjosa tributaries: Followed by several international and national media teams, a science delegation from Austria, Albania, Italy and Germany spent a week in early June at two major Vjosa tributaries Shushica and Bënça to collect multidisciplinary data. The idea is to prove ecological value of these tributaries in order to fight of projected hydropower plants (HPPs) in administration and court. With this approach we successfully stopped dam plans on the Vjosa. Joshua D. Lim

Vjosa Science Week 2017: about 30 scientists from 4 countries and various expertise participated in one week of research on the previously almost unexplored Vjosa river in Albania – in the area of the planned Poçem dam, which will destroy Europe's last big wild river. All experts were amazed by the complexity and sheer size of the river system and every expertise found something at the Vjosa – species, habitat types, dynamic river processes – that has been long lost on all regulated rivers in central Europe. Gregor Subic/Kawka Production

Scientists for Balkan Rivers

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