Save the Blue heart of Europe | Center for Environment

Name of the organisation: Center for Environment
Name of the project: Save the blue heart of Europe
Program: Energy and climate change

Location	Budget (EUR)	Coordinator or partner	Donor	Amount of contribution	Dates
Bosnia and Herzegovina	58,551.00 30,000.00 20,000.00 27,264.00 53,010.00	Partner	Riverwatch Patagonia	58,551.00 30,000.00 20,000.00 27,264.00 53,010.00 53,010.00 53,600.00 29,171.00	1.6.2017. – ...


Description	Blue heart of Europe is on the Balkan Peninsula. Here you can still find wild and beautiful rivers in Europe. However, the whole river network is endangered by plans for the construction of a large number of hydropower plants. About 2,700 hydropower plants are planned between Slovenia and Albania. Those hydropower plants will endanger biodiversity, protected areas and entire landscapes. In order to stop this huge problem in 2013, the campaign “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” was launched. Overall objective: To save the natural European heritage of the Balkan peninsula rivers from destruction. Objectives: -Develop and implement national and international campaign activities -Create a sound base knowledge for argumentation- -Raise national awareness on adverse impacts of HPPs- -Initiate/Continue legal processes against HPPs on national level Results: -Local Campaign Team in Bosnia and Herzegovina established -Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina campaign developed and campaign implemented -Updated database of hydropower projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina (planned, implemented) -List of arguments about negative impacts of HPPs created -Publication about the regional campaign, Bosnia and Herzegovina campaign and rivers that we will work on -Arguments created about subsidies and financing of HPP projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina -Study developed about the Huchen population in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s key basins -National media coverage- -Public events organised related to hydropower issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina -Legal proceedings conducted against specific HPPs (related to EIA, permits or concession agreement)

Description

Blue heart of Europe is on the Balkan Peninsula. Here you can still find wild and beautiful rivers in Europe. However, the whole river network is endangered by plans for the construction of a large number of hydropower plants. About 2,700 hydropower plants are planned between Slovenia and Albania. Those hydropower plants will endanger biodiversity, protected areas and entire landscapes. In order to stop this huge problem in 2013, the campaign “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” was launched.

Overall objective:
To save the natural European heritage of the Balkan peninsula rivers from destruction.

Objectives:
-Develop and implement national and international campaign activities
-Create a sound base knowledge for argumentation-
-Raise national awareness on adverse impacts of HPPs-
-Initiate/Continue legal processes against HPPs on national level

Results:
-Local Campaign Team in Bosnia and Herzegovina established
-Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina campaign developed and campaign implemented
-Updated database of hydropower projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina (planned, implemented)
-List of arguments about negative impacts of HPPs created
-Publication about the regional campaign, Bosnia and Herzegovina campaign and rivers that we will work on
-Arguments created about subsidies and financing of HPP projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina
-Study developed about the Huchen population in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s key basins
-National media coverage-
-Public events organised related to hydropower issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina
-Legal proceedings conducted against specific HPPs (related to EIA, permits or concession agreement)