I first heard about the plight of Balkan rivers last November during a lecture given by Vera from Balkan River Defence. As I had visited this beautiful region the previous summer during a holiday, I was devastated to hear how the rapid construction of hydropower threatens the rich biodiversity of these ecosystems. I immediately felt inspired to help the cause by using the skills I have gained during my University studies. I was put in contact with Catherine Bohne, who runs the NGO TOKA which aims to conserve the Albanian Alps and is devoted to fighting hydropower development within Valbona National Park. “It’s a miracle what nature gave us, it […]
The banks of the Soča River in Slovenia became the playground (and classroom) of the first ever Students for Rivers Camp during the fourth annual Balkan Rivers Tour. Twenty-eight students and more than 20 speakers from 20 different nations gathered with one common motivation; to use their brains to protect the last remaining wild rivers of Europe. “I basically came here to learn how I can help my friend Aoos and its tributaries?” – Dimitris Papageorgiou, student from the Aoos River | Greece Students and presenters from many different disciplines were invited to look at the threat of hydropower development from a wide range of perspectives. Only by understanding the […]
BALKAN RIVERS TOUR 4 – WEEK 2 RECAP Celebrating Slovenia’s Soča River The Soča River. She is where many of the Balkan River Defence (BRD) team learned to kayak. The river they call home. And the main inspiration behind Balkan Rivers Tour (BRT). Basically, what motivated this group of kayakers to take-action and stand up for all the rivers of this region. So, it’s fitting that we invited kayakers, university students and river conservation experts from around the world to our home, to celebrate the Soča River during week 2 of BRT4. Together with the River Intellectual’s Students for Rivers Camp, we gathered over 150 people to disrupt the norms of […]