In April, about 30 scientists paparticipated in one week of research on the previously almost unexplored Vjosa river in Albania. All experts were amazed by the complexity and sheer size of the river system and every expertise found species, habitat types, dynamic river processes, that have been long lost on all regulated rivers in central Europe. Watch this 3-minute video, featuring stunning drone footage of the extensive Vjosa river landscape.

Freedom to the rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina © Dinno Kasalo

Taking matters into hand: this 14-meter girl is smashing the already broken and obsolete dam on the Bašćica River in Bosina and Herzegovina with a hammer. For days this picture has been circulating in social media, leaving people to wonder who was behind this ingenious protest action. On Tuesday, the Coalition for the Protection of Rivers of Bosnia and Herzegovina has lifted the mystery.

Riverwatch (Ulrich Eichelmann and Cornelia Wieser) at the Drina Regatta, protesting dam projects in the name of the threatened Huchen. © Nataša Crnković

++ 20,000 people at this year's event on Drina River in Serbia ++ NGO's protested against damming the globally most important Huchen (Danube Salmon) River ++ At this year’s event, NGOs in cooperation with angling (fishing) associations protested against hydropower plans for the first time in the 24-year history of the regatta.

The Guradian "defender tracker" records every murder of environmental defenders. Source: The Guardian

Life is dangerous if you stand up for nature protection these days! In 2016, 200 environmental activists have been killed globally, with a rising trend in 2017 (four per week). Brazil, Colombia and the Philippines are leading this alarming death poll. Read for yourself in yesterday’s Guardian article.

For seven years now, Blue Heart partner Center for Environment and the entire Coalition for Sana are gathering at the sources of Sana River in order to fight the construction of hydropower plant Medna, which is being constructed by the Austrian-German Kelag company. The Sana is one of the last remaining rivers that provides habitat for the endangered Huchen.

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