Filter by Themen
Filter by Kategorien
Filter by Veranstaltungsschlagworte
FS Logoi

New hope for Balkan Rivers

Funding for the two large hydropower projects in Mavrovo National Park, Macedonia, has been axed: World Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction withdrew from financing.

von | 19.06.17

New hope for the Mavrovo National Park. Their river Radika will stay free flowing.

After the World Bank withdrew from financing the hydropower plant ‘Lukovo Pole’ already in December 2015, now also the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) declared in January 2017 to pull out of the project ‘Boskov Most’. This is another stage victory for the protection of Balkan Rivers from destruction by the hydropower industry. “This step by the EBRD was long overdue. Hydropower plants are inconsistent with biodiversity conservation and have no place in protected areas like Mavrovo National Park”, says Gabriel Schwaderer, speaking for nature conservation foundation EuroNatur.

Balkan lynx habitats saved

The Boskov Most project already rested on shaky foundations: The Standing Committee of the Bern Convention (one of the most important environmental agreements in Europe) called on the government of Macedonia in December 2015 to suspend all construction projects in Mavrovo National Park and to conduct a Strategic Environmental Assessment. „This assessment is still lacking. Further, in May 2016 the administrative court of Macedonia declared the licence for the construction of ‘Boskov Most’ void on the grounds that the Ministry of Environment had granted the licence in 2012 on the basis of an utterly inadequate and incomplete environmental impact assessment and has therefore violated national environmental law“, says Aleksandra Bujaroska for the Macedonian environmental organisation Front 21/42. “After five years of intensive advocacy work, we welcome the decision by the EBRD to finally listen to our concerns and to withdraw from financing Boskov Most. Mavrovo National Park is one of the last areas where reproduction of the extremely rare Balkan lynx has been proven. Constructing hydropower plants and the associated infrastructure would destroy one of its last habitats”, says Ana Colović Lesoska for the Macedonian environmental NGO Eko-svest.

One of Europes biodiversity hotspots

The Balkan lynx is a subspecies of the Eurasian lynx and is considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Apart from that, Mavrovo National park harbours far more than 1000 animal and about 1500 plant species and is one of the biodiversity hotspots in Europe. While the EBRD’s decision means that the hydropower projects in Mavrovo National Park lost another major financier, this European natural treasure continues to be under threat. There are plans for 17 more plants – smaller, but no less dangerous. “Contrary to popular opinion, small is not beautiful, as small hydropower plants entail similarly disastrous ecosystem disruption as big ones. We will continue campaigning until these projects have been dropped, too”, says Ulrich Eichelmann, coordinator of the campaign ‘Save the Blue Heart of Europe’ at Riverwatch.
Further information here.

Bildquelle, falls nicht im Bild oben angegeben:

Jetzt Newsletter abonnieren

Stoff für Ihr Wissen, jede Woche in Ihrem Postfach.

Hier anmelden

Willy-Hager-Auszeichnung im Bereich Wasser- und Abwassertechnik 2025
Willy-Hager-Auszeichnung im Bereich Wasser- und Abwassertechnik 2025

Zwei Forscher werden für ihre Arbeiten im Bereich Wasser- und Abwassertechnik geehrt: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg E. Drewes erhält die Willy-Hager-Medaille 2025 für seine Beiträge zur sicheren Wasserwiederverwendung. Mit dem Willy-Hager-Preis ausgezeichnet wird Dr.-Ing. Tobias Blach für seine wegweisende Forschung zur Behandlung von Prozesswasser aus der Klärschlammverwertung.

mehr lesen
GKD feiert 100-jähriges Bestehen
GKD feiert 100-jähriges Bestehen

Die GKD – Gebr. Kufferath AG, globaler Technologieführer für technische Gewebe, feiert in diesem Jahr ihr 100-jähriges Bestehen. Am 17. Juni 1925 gründet Josef Kufferath gemeinsam mit seinem Bruder Richard eine Drahtweberei in Düren. Ausgangspunkt sind Gewebe für die Bergbauindustrie. Heute zählt GKD zu den weltweit führenden Anbietern technischer Gewebe- und Prozesslösungen.

mehr lesen
Microplastics threaten resilience of Mediterranean corals
Microplastics threaten resilience of Mediterranean corals

The bay of Illa Grossa off the coast of Spain, is home to the only reef-forming stony coral species in the Mediterranean: Cladocora caespitosa. Despite its isolated location and being free from local sources of pollution, a study led by Kiel University (Marine Pollution Bulletin) reveals that this habitat is heavily polluted with microplastics.

mehr lesen

Passende Firmen zum Thema:

Sie möchten die gwf Wasser + Abwasser testen

Bestellen Sie Ihr kostenloses Probeheft

Überzeugen Sie sich selbst: Gerne senden wir Ihnen die gwf Wasser + Abwasser kostenlos und unverbindlich zur Probe!

Finance Illustration 03