Ulrich Eichelmann
CEO, project coordinator 'Blue Heart'
ulrich.eichelmann@riverwatch.eu
0043/676 6621512

Ulrich is a German ecologist and conservationist who has been living in Vienna for 29 years. He worked for WWF Austria for more than 17 years until 2007, being primarily concerned with river conservation and restoration. He has been campaigning internationally against the construction of hydropower plants such as dams along the Danube or the Ilisu Dam project on the Tirgris River in Turkey. Between 2010 and 2012, he produced the film Climate Crimes, a documentary about the abuse of climate protection and the consequences of so-called green energies.  In 2012, he founded the Vienna-based conservation organization River Watch – a society for the protection of rivers. In addition, he is freelancing for the Manfred-Hermsen-Stiftung, an environmental protection foundation based in Bremen, Germany. In November 2014, he was awarded the Great Binding Prize for Nature Conservation, and in June 2015, he received the Wolfgang Staab Prize for Nature Conservation.

Cornelia Wieser
Chief financial officer, partner coordination 'Blue Heart'
cornelia.wieser@riverwatch.eu
0043/650 4544784

Conny has been working for Riverwatch since February 2013. Born in Austria, she studied International Development (focusing on environmental issues) in Vancouver/Canada and is particularly interested in habitat conservation, ecological equilibrium and true climate protection. She is responsible for public relations, partner coordination, event planning, as well as administrative and organisational issues. Currently, the focus of her work lies in the “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” campaign. For her work in protecting Balkan rivers, she was awarded the second environmental prize "Trophée de femmes 2019" by the Foundation Yves Rocher in La Gacilly, France.

Manuela Habe, Mag.a
Network Coordinator - Scientists for Balkan Rivers
scientists@balkanrivers.net

Manu assumed the role of network coordinator at the Scientists for Balkan Rivers at the start of 2025 to re-emphasise the importance of science as an objective foundation for best practice and strengthen the scientific community's outreach through fostering engagement, integral approaches, and cooperation. While her academic background lies in wildlife ecology and behavior modification within multidisciplinary settings, her extensive remote travels and her firsthand experience of people's daily battles to preserve their way of life and revitalise their connection with the battered land, led her to consider alternative career paths and advocate for the need of a reciprocal way when dealing with nature. Her involvement in various Save The Blue Heart of Europe Science Weeks has allowed her to witness firsthand the remarkable impact of collaborative scientific endeavours, particularly when they are integrated within inclusive and multicultural contexts, reinforcing her belief that clear and timely communication of scientific findings is essential for catalysing the transformative change needed to address the numerous challenges Balkan rivers are facing today.