Safeguarding the last wild rivers of Europe

Stretching from Slovenia in the west to Turkey in the east, the Balkan Peninsula spans a total of 12 countries and is home to some of the most beautiful and expansive river systems in Europe. Collectively, they are known as the Blue Heart of Europe – and they are the continent's last wild rivers.

Why are the Balkan rivers so important?

For millennia, these rivers have been central to trade, community and culture. They are also home to diverse and unique plants and animals – making them a global hotspot for biodiversity. Despite covering less than 1% of the Earth’s surface, freshwater ecosystems are home to approximately 10% of all species – globally. There are an estimated 70 fish species living in the Balkans’ rivers which are found nowhere else on Earth.

Safeguarding Europe’s last wild rivers isn’t just pivotal for the region, it’s pivotal for the planet.

Why are these rivers under threat?

The Blue Heart of Europe is under threat from the exponential expansion of hydropower energy projects. To date, there are 1,700 hydropower plants in the Balkans, many without proper environmental assessment. This number is set to more than triple in the coming years.

From species extinction and habitat damage, to human displacement and a loss of people’s livelihoods, hydropower projects can have an irreversible impact on biodiversity and local communities.

What are we doing to help?

Alongside other NGOs, we have been taking action to safeguard the Blue Heart of Europe. Together, we have brought legal actions to protect rivers in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania and successfully halted the construction of two hydropower plants on the Vjosa River.

In June 2024, we published a report alongside EuroNatur and Riverwatch, looking into the realities of the extent to which Balkan countries are safeguarding their rivers. The report is an interim evaluation of how effectively Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia are safeguarding their rivers by incorporating key EU laws related to hydropower projects into their national laws.

Despite differences in how the laws were adopted, all countries are facing common challenges in effectively enforcing them. The report shows there has still been some progress, however, it also highlights failures to comply with the EU framework concerning environmental law, which stops the region’s rivers being effectively protected.

Within the report, we offer key recommendations for enhancing legal frameworks to ensure the long-term health of these vital ecosystems. We believe that these can play a vital role in guiding policymakers, environmental advocates, and other stakeholders in their efforts to protect and preserve these incredibly important rivers.

Read the full report here