BIRD SURVEY OF THE SAVA RIVER

BIRD SURVEY OF THE SAVA RIVER

BRT5 Bird Census of the Sava River in Slovenia Whitewater kayaker and ornithology expert, Bor Mihelič, was a part of the BRT5 crew for the entire descent of the Sava, performing a bird survey in the nesting season of the entire 258 km of Sava River in Slovenia – the first continuous survery of this kind. His data and findings were a base for his diploma thesis and they now provide a base of data which local conservation groups can use to further protect stretches of the Sava. Bor has been an active member of DOPPS since he was a child, and recently he has been involved and specialized in […]

ENVIRONMENTAL DNA STUDY

ENVIRONMENTAL DNA STUDY

BRT5 Environmental DNA study One thing that makes BRT different from other river conservation projects is how we combine adventure sports to science and nature conservation to expose the problem of dams, give a voice to the rivers and those fighting for them and also work towards solutions and alternatives. So, we are excited to say that during BRT5, we were performing an exciting environmental DNA study (eDNA)*, using this cutting-edge technology with the help of renowned ichthyology experts, to do the following: Create the first ever complete eDNA sampling of the Sava River in Slovenia. Deliver a map of the general presence of Natura 2000 species along the Sava […]

BRT 5 | JUNE 2021

BRT 5 | JUNE 2021

The Sava River is kind of like the girl next door. You spend your childhood playing together, never really realizing how attractive/mysterious/beautiful and incredible she really is. This is why the Balkan River Tour 5 crew kayaked the length of their home river, the Sava River in Slovenia. 11 days.  258km of paddling. 1 river.  2 forks.  Sava. From June 1st to June 11th 2021. During the 11 days on the water the crew explored this stunning river, followed by media crew capturing moving and still images to later be shared with broad public via our new full-feature documentary.  WHY DOES THE SAVA NEED HELP? The Sava River is facing a […]

BRT 4 | APRIL, JULY, SEPTEMBER 2019

BRT 4 | APRIL, JULY, SEPTEMBER 2019

We used a new approach for Balkan Rivers Tour 4 Instead of using the usual BRT formula, one big, month-long event, we changed the concept to split the river conservation action into 3 separate weeks. A way to mix things up, to get to some seldom seen and under represented valleys, to explore some new rivers and above all to stay at the same place with the same people for a longer time, to make our efforts more focused and helpful. It turned out to be quite an effective and quite a wild year! We set a basecamp for each week and used it as a place where we eat, […]

BRT 3 | SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER 2018

BRT 3 | SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER 2018

We decided to make the third Balkan Rivers Tour special in 3 ways; to make it really big and support local initiatives more directly with focus on creative actions, travel from south towards north for the first time to finish at our homes in Slovenia and use it as a premiere tour for our fresh full length documentary The Undamaged. With this in mind the program was full on for 32 days. We have visited 6 countries, kayaked on 9 rivers, joined forces with nearly 1.500 people from 19 countries and made 17 events with protests, flotillas and The Undamaged screenings. The grand finale happened in Slovenia, with flotillas on […]

BRT 2 | MARCH TO MAY 2017

BRT 2 | MARCH TO MAY 2017

In order to carry on with the flow, Balkan Rivers Tour 2 started in March 2017 and gathered paddlers, locals, nature lovers and friends from all over the world to show their support to free flowing rivers and have good times together. This time the action was more straightforward. We focused on two rivers; Slovenia’s Soča and Montenegro’s Morača River. We started the tour by paddling the Soča – the emerald pearl of the Alps – from it’s source in Slovenia to the Adriatic sea in Italy. Directly following the Soča, the Balkan Rivers Tour crew dove into exploration and adventures deep in the Dinaric Alps of Greece and Albania […]

BRT 1 | APRIL AND MAY 2016

BRT 1 | APRIL AND MAY 2016

When Slovenian kayaker Rok Rozman found out there were 2,700 dams proposed to be built in his backyard, the Balkan Peninsula, he didn’t start a petition or write letters to politicians. He just went kayaking. And this seemingly simple action has started what has become the biggest direct river conservation action in Europe. At its roots the Balkan Rivers Tour is about saving rivers in threat of being dammed. But success of this movement comes from something so organic, and so simple; having fun. BRT started as a crazy red line on a map and turned into a movement. It created an atmosphere where people are united in the fight […]

LECTURES + PRESENTATIONS

LECTURES + PRESENTATIONS

Rok and the BRD team have traveled to festivals, outdoor shops and events to share the story of BRT over the last couple of years. Interactive and entertaining slide shows (presented with complete honesty and zero filter) entertain audiences with the whole BRD story but also challenge people to think and take action for themselves. Presentations take people on the journey…from how Rok took the plunge and dove into this crazy project to how the team pulled together BRT 1 and BRT 2. Presentations also outline why hydro is dirty  and how we got our story into the spotlight of international and nations media attention. These events helped share the […]