Green dams ‘hit’ West Balkans biodiversity, locals’ water supply
May 1, 2018
Lauded as green and environmentally friendly, small-scale hydropower dams are dotted around the West Balkans. But local communities say the impact is disastrous. Source: Green dams ‘hit’ West Balkans biodiversity, locals’ water supply
‘Tsunami’ of hydropower dam building threatens Europe’s last wild rivers – campaigners
April 29, 2018
Critics say hydropower plants threaten animal life and people’s access to water Source: ‘Tsunami’ of hydropower dam building threatens Europe’s last wild rivers – campaigners
Bankwatch: 82 HPP Projects Financed by Banks in SEE
March 16, 2018
Multilateral development banks have supported no fewer than 82 hydropower projects across South East Europe (SEE), including in protected areas, shows a study published by the CEE Bankwatch Network. Source: Bankwatch: 82 HPP Projects Financed by Banks
European Bank Gives Go-Ahead to Controversial Georgian Dam
February 5, 2018
A new dam will provide eight percent of Georgia’s electricity, but locals worry about its effect on their land. Now the project has European funding. Source: European Bank Gives Go-Ahead to Controversial Georgian Dam
Bankwatch warnt vor Umweltschäden durch Projekte der Kleinwasserkraft im Westbalkan
January 11, 2018
Acht Wasserkraftprojekte im Westbalkan, die mit europäischen Mitteln finanziert werden, schädigen die biologische Vielfalt. Das hat die NGO CEE Bankwatch Network festgestellt. Source: Bankwatch warnt vor Umweltschäden durch Projekte der Kleinwasserkraf
Guest post: One beast with many heads – a hydropower hydra in the Balkans
December 21, 2017
A visit to six mountain rivers and nine small dams in Macedonia exposed similar problems with many of them.
European-financed small hydropower plants damaging pristine Balkan landscapes – study
December 20, 2017
Eight hydropower projects in Albania, Croatia and Macedonia financed with European public money have damaged biodiversity and are in urgent need of increased monitoring and restoration measures.
Broken rivers. The impacts of European-financed small hydropower plants on pristine Balkan landscapes
December 19, 2017
Eight hydropower projects in Albania, Croatia and Macedonia financed with European public money have damaged biodiversity and are in urgent need of increased monitoring and restoration measures.
Bern Convention: Macedonian government is urged to halt construction of hydropower plants in national park
December 11, 2017
Plans for 17 hydropower plants throughout Macedonia’s Mavrovo National Park must be immediately suspended, so the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention ruled at its annual meeting last week.
Ecological integrity assessment of four rivers in Macedonia affected by derivation hydropower schemes based on aquatic macroinvertebrates
December 7, 2017
This study provides an ecological integrity assessment of four rivers in Macedonia affected by small hydropower plants which are perceived as low-impact but can have significant detrimental effects on river ecosystems. The selected plants are financed by international development banks such as the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).