It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Jean Wencker in August 2025. Jean Wencker devoted much of his life to protecting the environment and restoring aquatic habitats. As former president and then vice-president of Alsace Nature, he represented the association in numerous bodies: the International Commission for the Protection of […]
On June 4, 2025, the European Commission presented its EU water resilience strategy, a much-anticipated document at a time when shortages, floods, and pollution are increasingly threatening aquatic ecosystems. But behind the stated intentions, the content is disappointing. This document, which is supposed to respond to the call made by the Living Rivers Europe coalition […]
France is launching a public consultation on its future national plan on the “Nature restaration law.” The plan aims to restore degraded natural environments in accordance with the new European regulation on nature restoration. The European Union’s target is to restore at least 20% of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030, with intermediate stages in […]
On May 14, 2025, the Lyon administrative court of appeal validated the construction of a hydroelectric power plant on the Sallanche river, a tributary of the Arve (in Haute Savoie). FNE had challenged the prefectoral environmental authorization order in 2019, as the project threatened this river, classified as a biological reservoir, and diverted more than […]
The European water resilience strategy will be voted on at the beginning of June. But following the recent report voted by the European Parliament on 7 May, and media reports on the Commission’s draft, the NGO coalition Living Rivers Europe fears that the forthcoming strategy lacks the tools needed to make Europe truly water resilient. […]
A a glance : 542 obstacles removed in 2024 in 23 countries – an increase of 11% on last year. 2900 km of rivers reconnected across the continent 4 countries have removed their first barriers Those highlight the growing support for barrier removals across Europe as well as increasing understanding among communities and governments of […]
For several years now, SOS Loire Vivante-ERN has been successfully campaigning on the subject of the Montpezat hydroelectric complex and the potential renewal of the concession at the end of 2028. This is a thorny issue, because behind the question of energy production (135 MW), we are actually talking about one of the largest transfers […]
The impressive Rhinau fish pass on the Rhine will be put in the water next week for testing. The deadline for completion of the work has been met. A large-scale monitoring system will keep track of how the fish pass is used. ©Daniel Reininger – Alsace Nature More info
Since 1989, the Goldman Environmental Prize has been awarded to environmental “heroes” around the world. In Europe, and in the “fresh water” category, two Albanian activists from Eco Albania were rewarded for their defense of the Vjosa, one of the continent’s last wild rivers. Through their campaign, they succeeded in preventing the construction of multiple […]
The Open Rivers Programme continues to found barriers removal projects, preparatory studies and works. ERN – SOS Loire Vivante, can help and advise you if you wish to apply. To prepare the next call for projects, a webinar to present the program, eligibility criteria and ask your questions is organized on May 20 from 4 […]
ERN France
ERN is the official WWF Freshwater Partner in France and cooperates with WWF Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands and others
