Europe’s last wild rivers under siege: Nearly 2,500 km of pristine Balkan rivers lost since 2012
The first comparable regional assessment in over a decade documents the deterioration of Europe's last wild rivers, with pristine stretches dropping from 30 to 23 per cent since 2012 - a staggering loss of 2,450 river kilometres. Albania’s rivers have deteriorated faster than those of any other Balkan country, largely due to hydropower and river regulation.
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Vlora Airport in Albania criticized again at Bern Convention meeting
Albania is ignoring key elements of Bern Convention Recommendation regarding Vjosa river and Vlora International Airport.
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Stage victory in court against Vlora Airport
Good news in the case of the International Vlora Airport in the Narta lagoon: The Administrative Court of Appeal in Tirana has recognized EuroNatur's Albanian partner organizations PPNEA and AOS as legitimate parties to the proceedings against the airport construction and has decided to refer the case back to the court of first instance for a hearing.
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Ecological catastrophe on the Neretva: fish kill caused by hydropower operations
The operation of the new Ulog hydro power plant triggered a massive fish kill in September 2025. Oxygen-depleted deep water from the reservoir killed endangered species such as the softmouth trout. These findings were formally presented today, 28 November at a conference hosted by Foundation ACT and the Zeleni Klub (Green Club) at the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
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Major success for the Morača River in Montenegro: Memorandum of Understanding signed to place it under protection
The Montenegrin Ministry of Environment, together with EuroNatur and its Montenegrin partner organisations CZIP and CDE-MES, has signed a memorandum of understanding to improve the protection of the Morača.
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Balkan nature on the line: Environmental compliance lags in EU accession drive
++ Western Balkan candidates are still failing to meet EU nature and biodiversity safeguards ++ European Commission’s Enlargement Package notes serious shortfalls especially in protected-area safeguards, species conservation and environmental impact assessments ++
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UNESCO designation for Vjosa
In September 2025, the Vjosa River in Albania was recognised as a UNESCO biosphere reserve — in our view, a purely symbolic achievement that now needs to be translated into concrete action to live up to the new designation.
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Further step towards the creation of a cross-border Vjosa-Aoos National Park
One river, two countries. At the transboundary river forum, another step was taken toward creating the first transboundary wild river national park in Europe: Aoos/Vjosa.
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IUCN Congress votes in favor of Motion 130: Strengthening restrictions against unsustainable tourism infrastructure
Upfront the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress, members have overwhelmingly approved Motion 130 with more than 98 % of votes, calling for stronger restrictions on unsustainable tourism infrastructure in IUCN Category I and II protected areas.
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