United to Protect Balkans' Wild Rivers and their defenders

Podgorica, Vienna, Radolfzell. Under the banner “Uniting Voices for the Blue Heart of Europe” this year’s Balkan River Summit brought together over 100 international river conservation experts, scientists and activists in Podgorica, Montenegro, from 29 September to 3 October. The event aimed at uniting river defenders to protect the valuable Balkan rivers and to speak out against the imminent and systematic threat the rivers are facing, mainly from hydropower development.

The summit’s theme of ‘Standing united’ is more crucial than ever: not only are rivers under attack, but also those defending them. Recently, environmental activists across the region have been subjected to systematic intimidation, including legal harassment (e.g. SLAPP cases), media smear campaigns, physical threats, and even detention—solely for advocating for the protection of nature. Many participants at the summit shared their firsthand experiences of this repression. In response, attendees signed a joint statement, urging national governments, regional authorities, and corporations to cease the harassment of environmental defenders and respect their fundamental rights.

“It’s vital that we unite for our rivers and ensure that both nature and the defenders of these ecosystems are safeguarded from harm. By standing together, we send a strong message that these precious ecosystems, and the people fighting for them, deserve the highest level of protection,” said Amelie Huber (EuroNatur), the lead organizer of the event. Her words underscored the collaborative spirit of the summit, which was further reinforced by a message from UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders, Michel Forst. In his video address, Forst encouraged participants to report cases of harassment, showing his support for those fighting on the front lines of environmental protection.

The summit showcased that the river protection community stands united and vigilant. This unity was beautifully represented during the public kayak floatilla, where the slogan “Keep rivers wild” floated across the Morača River, symbolising the shared commitment to preserving these vital ecosystems. This collective action also intended to harness greater national attention, as the local host of the event emphasized the challenges faced by rivers in Montenegro. “Hosting the Balkan River Summit 2024 here in Montenegro gives us the opportunity to draw attention to our national river issues and call on our government to take stronger action in protecting these vital ecosystems,” said Jelena Popovic from the Montenegrin Ecologists Society.

"The rivers of the Balkans are natural jewels for the whole of Europe. Our fight to protect them determines not only the fate of these rivers, but the future of a Europe we want to live in. Do we want a continent with living rivers or not? Do we want a Europe with the Blue Heart beating or not? If we don’t stand united and act now, we risk losing them forever," concluded Ulrich Eichelmann from Riverwatch.
 

Background information:

• The Balkan River Summit 2024 was organised by conservation organisations EuroNatur, Riverwatch, the Montenegrin Ecologists Society and the Save Komarnica initiative.
• The Balkan River Summit is part of the “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” campaign, coordinated by the NGOs Riverwatch and EuroNatur. It aims to protect rivers of high natural value in the Balkans, which are threatened by over 3,300 hydropower projects.  
• The “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” campaign is supported amongst others by the Manfred-Hermsen-Stiftung.

Contact:

• Christian Stielow, EuroNatur; christian.stielow(at)euronatur.org, phone: +49 7732 927215
• Cornelia Wieser, Riverwatch; cornelia.wieser@riverwatch.eu, phone: +43 650 4544784
• Jelena Popovic, Montenegrin Ecologists Society; drustvoekologa@gmail.com, phone:+382 68 048 388