Aoos Springs Dam Drains Life from One of Europe’s Last Wild Rivers
The lack of required ecological flow from a hydropower dam in the Greek section of the Aoos/Vjosa River is endangering a unique and fragile ecosystem. A new scientific study underscores the urgent need to establish a minimum flow regime to restore the river’s ecological functions and safeguard its rich biodiversity.
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Scientists across Europe oppose hydropower development in Montenegro’s Komarnica Canyon
++ Delayed environmental review and decision-making raise serious concerns over transparency and governance ++ Procedural failures and legal shortcuts undermine public trust in Montenegro’s environmental commitments ++
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Millions of birds still illegally killed – and most countries failing to stop it
++ Joint report by EuroNatur and BirdLife on illegal bird hunting ++Only 8 out of 46 countries on track to meet anti-poaching pledge by 2030 ++
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EU Parliament votes to weaken wolf protection
In a deeply concerning move for biodiversity across Europe, the European Parliament approved on the 8th of May the European Commission’s proposal to downgrade the protection status of wolves under the Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive. What is particularly worrying is that the fast-track vote was taken in an urgency procedure in which the responsible environmental committee was not even consulted. ++ Addendum of 10 June 2025: Following the EU Parliament, the member states have now also approved the amendment. ++
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Test flights at Vlora Airport construction site – A big show
++ Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama boasts of test flights at Vlora International Airport ++ Munich Airport no longer active in an advisory capacity ++ European institutions and Bern Convention sharply criticise controversial Vlora airport project ++
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English stork village honoured: Storks back on the island
It has taken nearly ten years for the network to grow again, but now the European Stork Villages initiative has another new member: The Knepp Estate and the village of Storrington in England have been honoured by EuroNatur for their merits in the successful reintroduction of white storks to the UK.
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Goldman Prize for EuroNatur partners from Albania
Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika from our Albanian partner organisation EcoAlbania were honoured with the Goldman Environmental Prize, the highest award for environmentalists. They received the award for their tireless efforts to protect the Vjosa.
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Bear cub drama
At the end of March, a bear cub was delivered to the animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS in Pristina, Kosovo. The cub had been caught in Albania and put up for sale online. A scandal showing that wildlife trafficking has not been completely curbed yet in the region and that effective structures for bear emergencies are urgently needed.
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Aoos & Vjosa: Boundlessly in full flow
Rivers know no borders and they create connections across borders. This is no empty phrase.
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Vjosa in the focus of the German Minister of Environment
EuroNatur’s Executive Director Gabriel Schwaderer was part of the delegation led by Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, who travelled to the Vjosa in Albania in mid-March 2025.
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