New hope for Balkan Rivers
The World Bank withdrew its funding for one of the two big hydropower projects inside Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia. This is another stage win for the protection of Balkan rivers from the destruction by the hydro lobby.
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New Bankwatch study: European “green energy” funding for hydropower threatens pristine Balkan rivers
A wave of hydropower development fuelled by European public funding and EU companies is endangering pristine river environments in the Balkans, finds a new study by CEE Bankwatch Network.
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Bern Convention demands provisional stop for the construction of hydropower plants in Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia
For the time being, no hydropower projects are to be built in Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia. This was decided at the meeting of the Bern Convention Standing Committee – Europe’s most important nature convention – in Strasbourg last Friday (December 4, 2015).
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Kelag destroys in Bosnia-Herzegovina one of the last habitats for the Huchen in Europe
Hydropower projects threaten one of the most important river sections for the endangered Huchen in Europe. This has been brought to public attention by environmentalists and scientists at a press conference in Banja Luka today.
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EU reports on aspirant nations' progress
The EU Commission has published reports today on aspirant nations' progress towards EU accession. The commission registers the fact that there is still a considerable way to go, most particularly in the area of nature conservation.
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Bern Convention calls for halt to hydropower development in Mavrovo National Park
This summer an international expert team visited Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia on behalf of the Bern Convention’s Standing Committee. Their mission: to assess compatibility of the projected hydropower plants with the status of protection of the Park. Their main findings leave no doubt...
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STOP Mokrice dam
Today, national and international environmental NGOs as well as experts call on Slovenian Minister of the Environment Irena Majcen to refuse approval of the projected hydropower plant Mokrice on the Sava river.
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Three new insect species discovered in Macedonia
In collaboration with Wolfram Graf, assistant professor at the Vienna University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, a team of scientists has discovered three previously unknown aquatic insect species inside the Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia.
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Hydropower Plants on the Una River Halted
The city council of Biha? halted the construction of two hydropower plants in the Una National Park in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The planned hydropower plants Martin Brod and Dobrenica would reduce the status as a national park to absurdity and would destroy one of the most magnificent rivers in the Sava River Basin.
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Dam craze puts protected areas in the Balkans at risk
A recent study on hydropower projects inside protected areas commissioned by Riverwatch and EuroNatur shows that 535 projects are currently planned within strict nature conservation areas, 113 of which in the midst of national parks.
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