Hands off Mavrovo National Park!
The World Bank Country Unit for Southeast Europe based in Vienna had unusual visitors this morning. Representatives of the environmental NGO Riverwatch handed over a letter of protest - signed by 77,930 people - against the proposed funding of a hydroelectric dam in the Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia.
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Pelicans heading for a record
The Dalmatian pelicans of Lake Skadar National Park are providing further good news: Already 48 pelicans that hatched this year are now swimming on Lake Skadar. That’s the highest number for 37 years. It was in 1977 that a comparable breeding success was observed for the last time.
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Baby boom on Lake Skadar
„For a long time, this is the most successful breeding season for Dalmatian pelicans on Lake Skadar.” This statement of joy by scientist Andrej Vizi of the Natural History Museum of Montenegro came after he and his colleagues counted 28 fledged pelican chicks during their last monitoring tour in April.
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Albania: National Park for Vjosa River instead of Dams
An unusual press conference has taken place in Albania today. On the gravel islands of the Vjosa River – the last big wild river in Europe – representatives of international and national environmental groups came together with the local mayor and business people in order to propose an idea to save the Vjosa.
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Dam Tsunami to Threaten Balkan Rivers
As a contribution to this year’s UN World Water Day (22.3.) on the topic of “Water and Energy”, EuroNatur and Riverwatch draw attention to the impending destruction of rivers on the Balkan Peninsula. Disguised as green sources of energy, more than 570 hydropower plants are planned to be built between Slovenia and Albania.
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National Geographic reports on Albania’s ban on hunting
Recently, Albania decided to ban hunting throughout the whole country for two years. The government wants to take advantage of this period in order to better protect migratory birds and other wildlife against poaching.This landmark decision was to a considerable extent inspired by an article by bestselling author Jonathan Franzen published in National Geographic.
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Bulgaria’s building boom threatens Nature Park
Strandzha Natural Park on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast faces irreversible impacts by huge construction projects, threatening the unique natural treasures of this exceptional part of the Balkan Green Belt.
More ...Albania decides to ban hunting for two years
Albania decides to ban all hunting throughout the whole country for two years. This initiative was announced already two weeks ago by the Albanian Minister of the Environment Lefter Koka. Recently it was communicated to the public that the Parliament now passed this moratorium on hunting.
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Save the blue heart of Europe
One of Europe’s oldest national parks is in danger: two large hydropower plants are to be built in Macedonia’s Mavrovo National Park with the help of international funding. Both the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plan to fund these projects. But now objections are being raised. 119 environmental scientists from around the world are protesting about the plans.
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‘Housing programme’ for the European Roller
In 2013 seven pairs of European Rollers bred in the Solana Ulcinj, Montenegro. Next year, the number of breeding pairs might rise significantly, as a donation campaign initiated by EuroNatur permitted to further improve the breeding conditions for this endangered bird species.
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