Published 23 hours ago • loading... • Updated 15 hours ago

Balkan Wild Rivers in Steady Decline: Study

Researchers led by Ulrich Schwarz concluded that nearly 2,500 kilometres of near-natural rivers were lost across the Balkans, with the share falling from 30% in 2012 to 23% in 2025, based on an assessment of 83,824 kilometres in 11 countries.
Hydropower expansion led to pressure on rivers, with around 1,800 small hydropower plants existing and more than 3,000 planned projects, plus gravel extraction and infrastructure works.
Albania recorded the steepest decline, with near-natural stretches dropping from 68% in 2012 to 40% in 2025, while Bosnia & Herzegovina's pristine rivers fell 23%, and major losses occurred in the Drina, Neretva, Vardar/Axios, Devoll, and Drin basins.
Legal victories and protected areas have preserved nearly 900 kilometres of rivers, while Albania's Vjosa Wild River National Park blocked nearly 40 dams and Bosnia's Federation Law halted about 116 hydropower projects.
Report authors warned river impoundments increased by 18% since 2012, clashing with EU accession environmental standards, and EuroNatur and Riverwatch urged urgent national and EU action.

Insights by Ground AI

17 Articles

Daily Journal

+14 Reposted by 14 other sources

Center

Balkan wild rivers in steady decline: study

Thousands of kilometres of Balkan rivers have been damaged in recent years, a study published Wednesday found, as hydropower development, dams and sediment extraction drive a "steady erosion" of some of Europe's last pristine waterways.

21 hours ago·Cherokee County, United States

Read Full Article

intellinews.com

Center

Europe’s last wild rivers shrinking fast as Balkans lose 2,500 km of pristine waterways

Wild rivers in the Balkans are being steadily eroded by hydropower and infrastructure development finds new study commissioned by Riverwatch and EuroNatur.

23 hours ago·Berlin, Germany

Read Full Article