News

The Vjosa River at a Crossroad – Dam Tsunami or National Park?

Today, the international NGOs Riverwatch and EuroNatur, together with their local partner EcoAlbania, are presenting a paper, which for the first time reveals the full extent of the threat to the Vjosa catchment area. According to this paper, the last big wild river of Europe is at risk of complete destruction.

The threat to Ulcinj Salina is still very much alive

For many species of ducks and waterbirds the Ulcinj Salina represents one of the most important resting places on their route through the Mediterranean. The precious natural heritage of Ulcinj Salina is in danger of falling prey to the interests of developers of mass tourism.

Massacre of Europa’s migratory birds

Shot down, plucked and sold on the black market. This is the fate of the hundreds of thousands of migratory birds that fall victim to bird hunting in Serbia and Romania each year. In “The Massacre of Europe’s Songbirds”, an article for the American news magazine Newsweek, Luke Dale-Harris exposes the Mafioso background to this bird massacre.

Support for the Sava River

On the occasion of the World Wetlands Day past Monday, the Sava River received cross-border backing. Representatives of protected area administrations and other public institutions from all the riparian countries signed a common declaration of intent to step up efforts to protect the ecological values of the Sava, its floodplain forests and its tributaries across the borders.

Vjosa in Albania: The municipalities of Përmet and Çarshovë want a National Park instead of dams

On Wednesday and Thursday the first public discussions about the future of the Vjosa Valley took place in the cities of Çarshovë (16.12.) and Përmet (17.12.) in southern Albania. While official plans of the government envisage the construction of eight dams along the river, the mayors and people of the affected communities support the alternative idea of establishing a national park.

Dam projects: Case against Macedonia

Due to the projected construction of hydropower plants in the Mavrovo National Park, proceedings under the Bern Convention are being initiated against Macedonia. Plans for the hydro projects shall rest until the situation is resolved.

NGO Protest: Sava River at Risk

In an open letter, fifteen environmental non-governmental organisations protest against the intention of the International Sava River Basin Commission to adopt a management plan for the Sava River basin.

Albania still a death trap for migrating birds?

Since March 2014 there has been an absolute ban on bird hunting in Albania. Officially. But in fact masses of migrating birds are still being shot by poachers. In his article “ Killing field for Migrating Birds“ in the online magazine „Yale Environment 360“ Phil Mc Kenna reports on the the situation he saw in Albania.

Mystery Adriatic Flyway

Only a few years ago, even among experts the Western Balkans was a blank area on the map of bird migrations. But today we know that millions of birds use this route twice a year to migrate between their breeding and their wintering grounds. The film “Adriatic Flyway” is vividly and impressively depicting, what threats the migratory birds are facing on their journey, why it is so important to preserve the valuable wetlands along the Eastern Adriatic as resting grounds for cranes, ferruginous ducks and others, and why there’s every reason for hope.

See the film on vimeo

Exceptional dedication for European symbol of peace

Today the Czech environmental and nature protection organisation Hnutí Duha (Friends of the Earth Czech Republic) received the EuroNatur Award 2014. Hnutí Duha has been for two decades working for the protection of National Park Šumava in an exemplary manner. Šumava is an important part of the European Green Belt.