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Balkan Rivers: Advocacy for Conservation of Ecosystems (BRACE)

Balkan Rivers

Advocacy for Conservation of Ecosystems (BRACE) 

Our goal is to prevent public money supporting river-damaging projects in the Mediterranean regions of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia. We also aim to ensure that sufficient EU funds are used for nature protection.  

This project uses a proven blend of legal, scientific, finance, advocacy and communications approaches. It tackles plans for hydropower plants, motorways and mines to reduce the likely damage or, where not possible, prevent the projects going ahead.  

To strengthen river protection, we advocate to speed up the full transposition and implementation of the EU Habitats, Birds and Water Framework Directives in the Western Balkans. We also advocate for the legal protection of nominated candidate Emerald sites under the Bern Convention and for the expansion of the Emerald Network with additional sites.  

Projects we monitor

Upper Horizons

A series of dams, diversion tunnels, hydropower plants and channels will completely change the natural hydrology of eastern Herzegovina and have unpredictable impacts on wetlands, rivers and underground karst.

Ulog

A 35 MW hydropower plant was completed in 2024 on a pristine section of the Neretva river at Ulog. Seven more plants are also planned further upstream.

Skavica

Instead of increasing its energy security, Albania is pushing the construction of yet more hydropower. The Skavica project may flood several villages, displace thousands of people and bring the Balkan lynx to extinction.

Corridor Vc

The pan-European Corridor Vc is planned to run for 330 km through Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serious concerns about environmental impacts, land expropriation, and threats to cultural heritage have been raised along the motorway route, mostly between Sarajevo and the southern border with Croatia.

Our activities

Publications

 

 

The project  benefits from the support of the Donors Initiative For Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems. 

This page was produced with the financial assistance of the Donors Initiative For Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems. The contents of this page are solely the liability of CEE Bankwatch Network and under no circumstances may be considered as a reflection of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation or Donors Initiative For Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems’ position.