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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European Parliament criticizes Albania’s hydropower policies
The European Parliament called upon the Albanian government to rethink the projected hydropower projects along the Vjosa River and its tributaries. In their Motion for a Resolution the vast majority of the EU parliamentarians demanded from Albania to abandon all hydropower projects, particularly those in national parks.
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Study confirms: The Heart of the Huchen beats on the Balkans
As a contribution to this year’s UN World Water Day (22.3.), representatives of the fields of science and fisheries in cooperation with environmental NGOs present a study about the distribution of the Huchen on the Balkan Peninsula. The results clearly show that the Balkan rivers constitute the last big hot spot for this species.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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