France : Resilience Day : SOS Loire Vivante – ERN publishes a video on the anti-floods developments in Brives-Charensac

France : National Resilience Day will be held on 13 October 2025. Its aim is to raise public awareness and promote safe behaviour in the event of natural disasters (fires, floods, etc.).
The effects of climate change are already showing us that extreme events are increasing in number and intensity, as evidenced by the recurrence of severe floods and devastating fires in recent years.

Being alerted in time and learning the right actions to take are essential for saving lives. Preparing our environment and making it resilient to these hazards has become essential for long-term action.

> National Resilience Day (government)

Fortunately, nature already offers us many solutions. With regard to flood risk, for example, the infiltration of water directly into the soil, natural flood expansion areas with log jams, and open spaces along watercourses can reduce the impact of flooding in urbanised areas. The key is to integrate the functioning of the river with its floodplain.

In Brives-Charensac, this method was tested over 30 years ago. During the recent floods in October 2024, it once again proved its worth.
Following the devastating and deadly floods of 1980, a dam project was devised to protect Brives-Charensac from flooding. SOS Loire Vivante – ERN was  strongly opposed the flooding of the Haute-Loire Gorges and the loss of its rich biodiversity, proposing instead to give space back to the river upstream and in Brives-Charensac over several kilometres.

Discover the developments carried out in the 1990s in a drone video

> video 3,5 min in French available on our YouTube channel

> Listen again to the webinar organised in December 2024 retracing the history of these developments and the evolution of the alert system with Yvan Cordier, Prefect of Haute Loire, Jean-Paul Bringer, Deputy Mayor of Brives-Charensac, Michel Cantal-Dupart, Urban Planner and Architect, and Tatiana Gontier, DDT 43 Head of the Risk Prevention Office.

FREE-FLOWING FUTURE: DAM REMOVAL ACTIONS SURGE ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

Once lagging behind Southeastern Europe is now seeing growing action to dismantle outdated dams, weirs, and culverts that fragment rivers, disrupt fish migration, degrade water quality and pose risk of failure. A new report reveals that river restoration through barrier removal—a critical tool to revive Europe’s freshwater ecosystems—is gaining unprecedented traction in Southeastern Europe (Figure 1). The breakthrough comes as EU Member States prepare their National Restoration Plans under the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, which requires 25000 km of rivers to be restored to free-flowing conditions by 2030.

The Southeastern Europe Barrier Removal Movement Progress Report 2024–2025, documents 135 activities, including 33 barrier removals across seven countries in just 18 months, signaling a turning point for a region long behind the rest of Europe in reconnecting its rivers. The activities presented in the report were classified into: (1) those contributing to scaling up the implementation of barrier removal (e.g., seminars, stakeholder engagement, knowledge dissemination, efforts to influence policy and legislation), (2) the preparatory works (e.g., barrier mapping and assessment, and hydrological, archaeological, etc. surveys), and (3) the actual barrier removals (Figure 1).

 

Restoration Success Stories 

  • Croatia: Eight obsolete barriers were removed, the first ever in the country, at Plitvice Lakes National Park reconnecting 7.6 km of river and restoring habitat for the endangered Danube trout (Figure 2).
  • Italy: Five barriers on the Giovenco River were removed, reopening 11 km of free-flowing river and revitalizing local wildlife and ecotourism (Figure 3).
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina: Multiple barriers (n=9) were dismantled for the first time in the country, at Hutovo Blato Nature Park and thus 2.5 km were restored for critical fish migration routes and important endemic species.
  • Slovakia: Removal of five barriers in the region of the original channel of the Danube reconnected a vital side arm, boosting biodiversity, flood protection & ecosystem resilience.

“Southeastern Europe holds some of Europe’s most ecologically valuable rivers, yet they remain heavily fragmented. With the EU Nature Restoration Regulation now in force, there has never been a better moment to scale up barrier removals, unlock funding, and prioritize free-flowing rivers as natural solutions to biodiversity loss and climate impacts.” said Jelle de Jong, CEO WWF-Netherlands

 A Call to Action

Despite this progress, less than 1% of all barrier removals in Europe to date have taken place in Southeastern Europe. Extra support is needed to assist the launch of pilot projects, to promote awareness about the benefits of free-flowing rivers, to create networks for practitioners to exchange methods and lessons learned, and to shift existing policies that will enable the implementation of this practice.

 

More info :

Read the SEE Progress Report 2024-2025

Read full press release

 

 

Dam Removal Day: celebrate free flowing rivers: 2 new factsheets to understand dam and weir removals

“On Dam Removal Day, 8 October 2025, NGOs in France and Europe reaffirm their commitment to restoring waterways and removing obsolete artificial barriers. More than 1.2 million structures block the free flow of European rivers and weaken the biodiversity and resilience of aquatic ecosystems. It is estimated that more than 200,000 of these structures are unused, abandoned or obsolete. Most are small structures less than 3 metres high, such as sluice gates, weirs and culverts, which bear witness to past uses. Their cumulative impact on biodiversity and the functioning of watercourses is significant. These obstacles isolate vulnerable freshwater species already weakened by the effects of climate change, impact fish migration, and promote the deposition of fine sediments that clog the riverbed upstream of the structures, etc.”

(read press release , in french only)

To reaffirm the advantages of removing obsolete structures that have a significant impact, ERN has published two fact sheets on experiences of removal in France:

– Removal of large dams on the Sélune, 4 pages, May 2025, ERN (french only)

For over a century, the Vezins and La Roche-qui-Boit dams interrupted the natural course of the river. Their removal allowed the Sélune to return to its original bed and natural dynamics. The result of many years of debate and scientific studies, this project restored ecological continuity and improved water quality throughout the watershed. Supported by numerous organisations, it will be scientifically monitored until 2027.

The initial results are already very promising. Atlantic salmon, European eels and sea lampreys have returned, natural sediment transport has resumed and biodiversity is increasing.

– Removal of the Rhodes Bridge weir, 4 pages, May 2025, ERN (french only):

This document summarises the main stages and challenges of the project to remove the Rhodes Bridge weir, which has reconnected nearly 29 km of free-flowing rivers, benefiting local biodiversity and the quality of aquatic environments.

Vidéos and cases sutides on youtube chanel : Rivières Vivantes – Laisser Couler – YouTube

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Living Rivers Europe recommendations to foster the implementation of the Water Framework Directive

Lobbies from the business, agriculture, and mining sectors – and even some Member States – are actively trying to weaken EU water laws.

They argue these laws are too costly, hinder economic activity, and complicate permitting processes.

These claims are unfounded and put the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in jeopardy.

We’re urging Commissioner Jessika Roswall to safeguard the EU water acquis and reject ANY attempt to include the WFD in the upcoming simplification Omnibus package!

Europe’s water security depends on a fragile hydrological cycle – already destabilised by pollution, land use, over-abstraction, and climate change.

Protecting water means access to safe drinking water, safe rivers and healthy food production.

Strong water laws are essential. Weakening them is simply NOT an option.

Read the letter

Tribute to Jean Wencker

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 the Rhine (ICPR), the Rhine-Meuse Basin Committee, the Saumon-Rhin association, and the Salmoncomeback NGO coalition, which is committed to bringing salmon back to Basel.

During his various terms of office, he tirelessly defended the ecological continuity of waterways, the protection of the Doubs and Rhine rivers, and the return of migratory fish, particularly salmon. He grew up on the banks of the Rhine, which shaped his commitment. In 2015, during a conference in Huningue, he emotionally shared memories of his father bringing salmon home and spoke of the devastation of the alluvial forests for the construction of dams in Strasbourg and Gerstheim, a major ecological disaster. Among his successes was the renovation of the Franco-Swiss Châtelot hydroelectric power station on the Doubs, inaugurated in 2006 after more than thirty years of struggle.

ERN and the Salmoncomeback coalition pay tribute to his career and his struggles. May they continue to inspire all those who work to protect life. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.

Read also the tribute by Alsace Nature.

Jean Wencker lors du colloque international Salmon Summit à Huningue en 2015 – CR .ERN

SNB 2030 remains an ambitious framework, but its success will depend on the ability to remove the obstacles identified by the CNB.

The National Biodiversity Strategy 2030 aims to translate France’s commitment under the global biodiversity framework adopted in Montreal in December 2022 into concrete actions. Its ambition is clear: to halt and then reverse the collapse of biodiversity by 2030, in line with European and international objectives. The strategy is structured around four main areas and is based on a participatory approach involving public and private actors, associations and scientists.

At its meeting on 24 June 2025, the National Biodiversity Committee adopted a critical opinion on the 2024 progress report on the SNB 2030. It includes a detailed analysis and recommendations to strengthen the strategy’s effectiveness.
In summary, the SNB 2030 remains an ambitious framework, but its success will depend on the ability to overcome the obstacles identified by the CNB: financial resources, policy coherence and the involvement of all stakeholders.

Indeed, the CNB raises serious questions about France’s ability to meet its commitments, particularly in light of ongoing political and budgetary decisions. It emphasises that the resources allocated and the consistency of public policies remain insufficient to achieve the objectives set.
In particular, it recommends programming dedicated multi-year funding and ending subsidies that are harmful to biodiversity, as well as strengthening the convergence between climate and biodiversity policies in order to give them the same level of priority in public action.

The CNB highlights a gap between the stated ambitions and the concrete resources implemented, particularly in terms of ecosystem protection and the fight against invasive alien species.
It stresses the need for better territorialisation of the strategy, involving regions and local actors more closely, and for regular assessment of progress made.

The strategy must now be implemented at the regional level (regional COPs) and monitored annually by the CNB until 2030. The coming months will be crucial in assessing whether the committee’s recommendations are being taken into account and whether the resources allocated are sufficient to meet the challenges.

See NGO’s press release.

A look back at the exchange and training days on the voluntary protection of private natural areas

Since 1989, the association SOS Loire vivante – ERN has successfully protected the Upper Loire Valley between Mont Gerbier de Jonc and Le-Puy-en-Velay, 60 km of gorges and valleys, the wildest in the entire Loire region. Its civic and activist victories have enabled its preservation, but in a context of agricultural decline and a desire to pass on the land, a new approach complementary to regulatory protection must be initiated to ensure long-term protection.

By including landowners in the process, SOS Loire Vivante – ERN aims to create the ” Collective Protection of the Upper Wild Loire Valley,“ a project that will rely on voluntary commitments from each landowner across a valley or large area, using, in particular, Environmental Real Obligations (ORE) [1], as the ”voluntary nature reserve” tool no longer exists.

In order to strengthen the sharing of experiences between landowners in other basins, SOS Loire Vivante – ERN, with around twenty members, visited the Vis Valley in early June to study the case of the Lo Ranquas “voluntary reserve,” a 250-hectare site that is particularly interesting due to its size and the presence of golden eagles. The program included a visit to the reserve with a presentation of the management choices implemented over the past 40 years and a round table discussion with SOS Loire Vivante-ERN, the president of Euronatur, the Horizons Séranne association, and the owners of Ranquas, highlighting the similarities and differences between the situation in the Upper Loire Valley and the Vis Valley in terms of the means for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the ecological management of the sites.

It emerged that Real Environmental Obligations (ORE) are a key tool for ecosystem conservation and sustainable property management. However, in the context of coherent management of large areas and/or with several owners, the associations considered complementary tools, in particular the possibility of creating an endowment fund. This fund would provide additional protection for the areas by offering owners more options and support, such as donations and bequests, and organizing fundraising to ensure the management of the sites. The fund could also play a role in the co-contractualization of OREs and guidance towards appropriate management structures. In the medium term, the coordination of the network of landowners would enable new owners to join a global and regional project. Finally, the fund would make it possible to promote large entities that are collectively and voluntarily protected, whether on the Vis, in the Haute Loire, or elsewhere.

These are very promising discussions, which will naturally be followed up:

More information on the two territories involved in the experiment: Review of the exchange and training days on the voluntary protection of private natural areas

Horizons Séranne | Gîte L’ Aire de la Séranne – Home

Haute Vallée de la Loire – Un lieu à découvrir

 

[1] The ORE is a voluntary land-based environmental protection mechanism that is unique in that it is contractual and can be invoked by any landowner. Codified in Article L. 132-3 of the Environmental Code and included in a contract signed by a notary, it commits the owner of a property (including in the event of a change of ownership) to implement environmental management and protection measures for a period of up to 99 years.


Reserve naturelle du Ranquas ©Corinne Ronot – SOS Loire Vivante


Christian, propriétaire et fondateur de l’association Horizon Séranne, explique les outils de gestion et suivi mis en place ©Corinne Ronot – SOS Loire Vivante

European water resilience strategy: ambition hampered by a lack of concrete commitments

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 in its recommendations, falls short in several respects. It lacks concrete commitments, clearly identified funding, and truly operational governance tools. After the European Parliament vote on May 7, several NGOs had already expressed doubts about Europe’s ability to provide itself with the means to respond to the water crisis. The strategy reflects the Commission’s view that “the legislative framework is already in place,” based on the Water Framework Directive, the Floods Directive, and the newly adopted Nature Restoration Regulation, yet “persistent implementation failures are holding back progress.”

The text highlights nature-based solutions, but without setting legally binding targets or providing specific budgets for their implementation. The incentives proposed remain too vague to bring about real change. In two separate responses, the EurEau federation and the Living Rivers NGO coalition regretted the absence of targets to reduce water abstraction in the strategy. Such a target was included in a draft version of the communication—which Contexte had published—but was ultimately replaced by a target to improve “water use efficiency” in the final version presented by the Commission on June 4. The efficiency target is vaguely defined: it “provides no baseline, no sectoral roadmap, and no implementation mechanism to achieve it.” The NGO coalition also deplores the fact that the target is not binding in any case.

On pollution, the measures are still too weak, particularly on prevention at source and the application of the polluter pays principle. Yet PFAS, nitrates, and other harmful substances continue to pollute waters across Europe.

The lack of a roadmap for the agricultural sector, combined with the absence of quantified targets by area, weakens the strategy.

As Living Rivers Europe points out, without concrete means or a precise plan, this ambition risks remaining unfulfilled. Meanwhile, pressure on rivers and wetlands continues to worsen.

The coming months will tell whether the Commission and Member States will be able to turn promises into action and take decisions that are commensurate with the challenge.

More infos : read Living Rivers Europe press release

Public consultation to help preparation of the Nature Restauration plans

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 2040 and a final target in 2050.

This project is part of the 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy and prioritizes the most fragile environments such as wetlands, forests, rivers, coastlines, and seabeds.

This consultation is open to everyone: citizens, associations, communities, professionals, and residents concerned. Giving your opinion means contributing to a fairer plan that is better suited to the needs of the regions and more effective in restoring biodiversity. It is also an opportunity to propose ideas and raise awareness of local priorities.

The consultation is being conducted under the responsibility of the National Commission for Public Debate, which guarantees the transparency and impartiality of the process. It will take place from May 23 to August 23, 2025. All relevant information, the calendar of events, and details on how to participate are available on the official website: https://restaurer-la-nature.biodiversite.gouv.fr

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Living Rivers Europe recommendations to strengthen the EU Water Resilience Strategy

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. The strategy is intended to respond to the growing urgency of water scarcity, floods, pollution, and ecosystem degradation across the continent.

Based on recent media reports, the draft text lacks the binding commitments, dedicated funding, and governance tools needed to ensure meaningful implementation and systemic change. Without those, ambition will remain on paper and will not be able to tackle growing pressures on Europe’s rivers and wetlands. On 20 May, the NGO coalition Living Rivers Europe sent a letter to the European Commission outlining their recommendations to ensure that the strategy can help Europe and citizens thrive.

At the beginning of May, the Living Rivers Europe coalition had already indicated that the European Parliament’s recommendations were a step in the right direction, but lacked ambition, with the text focusing on ‘grey infrastructures’ – i.e. systems and structures created by man – to the detriment of nature-based solutions.

In their report, adopted on 7 May by 470 votes to 81 with 92 abstentions, MEPs called for an ambitious strategy to enable the EU to better manage its water resources and respond more effectively to current challenges in this area. The text stresses that water is not only essential for health and life, but is also central to the European economy, its competitiveness and its efforts to adapt to climate change. The recommendations are aimed at water efficiency targets, pollution reduction and better disaster preparedness, but without any real tools. More info