Success for nature conservation: construction freeze for hydropower projects

++ Parliament imposes historic decision for rivers in Bosnia & Herzegovina ++

“Let me flow!” About 350 people blocked a bridge on the Neretvica river on June 1st and prevented the start of construction.

© Svjetlana Panic

Neretvica: 15 hydropower plants are projected along this pristine river. With the decision in the Federation of BiH all these projects will be checked.

© Amel Emric

Tuesday night, the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina decided on a moratorium on all new small hydropower projects in the country. This means that no more new plants will be approved, and projects that have already been approved will be audited to see whether or not their approval was actually legally admissible. With this decision, the Parliament is responding to a long-standing demand by environmentalists and large sections of the population.

Tuesday’s decision is a result of persistent opposition throughout the country against the construction of hydropower plants, many of which are being built illegally, even during the Corona lockdown. Most recently, in the beginning of June, 350 people protested and prevented the start of construction on the Neretvica river, a stream near Sarajevo.

Bosnia & Herzegovina is currently the hotspot for hydropower construction in Europe. Lately, concessions were granted almost on a daily base. Hundreds of hydropower plants have been built or are in the pipeline, resulting in social conflicts and dry river beds through most of the year. This should now be over.

By the decision of the Parliament, rivers like the Una, Šujica, Kruščica, parts of the Neretva are now safe. A total of 15 projects on the Neretvica as well as hundreds of other projects, for which concessions have already been granted, are under review.

This is a huge success especially for the NGOs and many river defenders in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Without their relentless resistance to the many projects, this decision would not have been possible. It is important to know, however, that the moratorium only applies to the Federation of BiH, but not to the second entity of Bosnia, the Republic of Srpska.

“This can be a historic moment for our rivers and nature. However, in the next months we will watch carefully that these ambitious targets won´t be watered down”, says Nina Kreševljaković, legal expert of Aarhus Center in Sarajevo and member of the legal team within the Blue Heart campaign.

"This is a tremendously important step in the right direction and this can serve as a role model for the all Balkan states and even for whole of Europe, since new hydropower developments are a major threat to biodiversity and people”, says Ulrich Eichelmann, coordinator of the Blue Heart campaign at Riverwatch.

"Small hydropower plants are merely a symbolic contribution to electricity production, not only in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but throughout the Balkans and Europe. It is about time to stop promoting this destructive exploitation of rivers. We expect that this decision will send a strong signal," says Gabriel Schwaderer, Executive director of EuroNatur.

Europe’s most intact rivers flow between Slovenia and Albania, but they are threatened by 3,000 planned hydropower projects. Since yesterday’s decision, there is much more hope that the Blue Heart of Europe will continue to beat.

 

Background information:
The campaign “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” aims to protect the most valuable rivers in the Balkans from a dam tsunami of about 3,000 planned projects. The campaign is coordinated by the NGOs Riverwatch and EuroNatur and carried out together with partner organisations in the Balkan countries. Find more information at https://balkanrivers.net/

Contact information:

  • Anja Arning, EuroNatur, anja.arning(at)euronatur.org  +49 (0)7732 – 927213
  • Ulrich Eichelmann, Riverwatch, ulrich.eichelmann(at)riverwatch.eu +43 676 6621512
  • Nina Kreševljaković, Aahus Center in BiH, admin(at)aarhus.ba +387 33 66 05 88

How you can help

Donation

Future needs nature. EuroNatur cares for it. Please use your possibilities to help. With your donation you will make an effective contribution to a more livable environment.

Sustaining membership

EuroNatur focuses on long-term nature conservation projects instead of quick fixes. With your regular donations, you give us the planning security we need.

News

Skavica mega dam: Albanian court to scrutinise special law for U.S. contractor Bechtel

++ Constitutional complaint filed by NGOs accepted for trial ++ First milestone in fight against one of Europe’s largest reservoirs ++ Thousands of…

Growing opposition to Albanian airport

++ Bern Convention calls on Albania to stop airport construction near Narta Lagoon ++ Project in Vjosa Delta endangers thousands of migratory birds ++…

EU Commission targets the wolf

Ursula von der Leyen warns of allegedly "dangerous wolves" - nature conservation organisations criticise misleading statements and dubious data…

Romanian forests: EuroNatur calls for a logging moratorium

+++ Open letter to Commissioner Sinkevičius calls for a logging moratorium in protected areas to end destruction of Romanian forests +++ Fourth…

Controversial airport construction in Albanian protected area casts shadow as far as Munich

++ Operating company Munich Airport International (MAI) is linked to illegal Vlora airport ++ Construction to take place in protected area of special…

Swimming for the monk seal

The Croatian free water swimmer Dina Levačić has been swimming in potential monk seal territories. Her campaign is aimed at drawing attention to the…

Wolf Offspring confirmed in the Black Forest

++ Photo trap image from the community of Schluchsee provides evidence of offspring ++ First wolf pack in over 150 years in Baden-Württemberg ++

Stork Village meeting in Tykocin, Poland

It was an anniversary celebrated in style: For the 20th annual meeting, representatives of the European Stork Villages met for the first time in the…

A slight sigh of relief for the Dalmatian pelicans

The Dalmatian pelicans at Lake Skadar are breeding successfully. This is all the more gratifying because last year's breeding season was disastrous.

Learning to live with bears

Preventing conflicts between people and wild animals

Urgent Call for Action to Protect Romania's Forests and Natura 2000 Sites

A recent report by EuroNatur and Agent Green provides new evidence on logging in Romania's protected areas. Nature conservation organisations call for…

Airport construction threatens Albanian bird paradise

++ Construction work for airport in Narta Lagoon continues unabated despite significant protests ++ Resting area is internationally important for…

Disappointing results of last trilogue on Renewable Energy Directive

++ Woody biomass and hydropower can continue to count towards renewable energy targets ++ No will for sustainable climate policy in the EU in sight ++

Major success: River Vjosa becomes National Park

++ Today the Vjosa River in Albania has been proclaimed Europe’s first Wild River National Park ++ EuroNatur, Riverwatch and many other partners have…

More Ski Resorts Planned Around Syvdovets

In 2016, the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration announced its plans to build a ski resort of the same name in the Svydovets mountain…