National Geographic highlights actions to promote ecological continuity of rivers

Are we finally going to reach a broad awareness of the urgency of restoring the ecological continuity of rivers? The Amber cartography has recently highlighted a staggering number of dams of all sizes that fragment Europe’s rivers (see our news of 05/01 :More than 1 Million). The quantity of small structures and thresholds is considerable. The large dams are no longer the only ones to be pointed at! By displaying the state of degradation of rivers in the eyes of all, this atlas is a very good tool for raising public awareness of the importance of restoring ecological continuity.
In 2020, some prestigious magazines have taken up the cause, such as Nature (2020/12/17) or, in France, the newspaper Le Monde (2020/12/16).  The National Geographic magazine also takes up these figures but points out the fact that in many parts of the world actions are underway to fight against this fragmentation of rivers.  Several examples of levelling or development of dams are cited, such as the Sélune in France. Several members of the Dam Removal Europe movement are interviewed

>> Read the National Geographic article of 2020/12/17

More than one million barriers fragment Europe’s rivers !

As part of the Amber project, a European atlas of dams and other obstacles was published this year. It took 4 years of census work, on 2700 km of rivers to complete this project, which is completed over time (see our news of last July 06). To date, the updated figure is staggering!  More than 1.2 million obstacles prevent the free running of our rivers and consequently their life …

A first study drawn from this database was published on 16/12/20 in the journal Nature (article to read here), signed by 20 researchers with Barbara Belletti, specialist in geomorphology at the CNRS and the University of Lyon, as main author.

 >> Discover the Atlas on line

In 2021, ERN will tell you a story in pictures…. but which one??

….the story of the restoration of ecological continuity in France, of course !

Please support our project before December 18

In 2021, our association ERN is going to realize a series of several short films, on the policy of restoration of the ecological continuity in France * : ” For free and living rivers: erase, modify and avoid ” (Project n°1)

To conduct its project, ERN has been selected among others in the framework of MobBiodiv’2020 by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB).

Until December 18, citizens can vote to elect a “Coup de coeur du public” among the 47 projects.

Watch our trailer here

VOTE : Did you like it?  Just click here and vote for ERN’s project n°1 “Erase, Modify, Avoid – for living rivers” (Attention, to vote, you have to go to the very bottom of the page!). Thanks !

 

* Indeed, France is a leader in Europe in restoring ecological continuity in particular by erasing small and large cross-cutting structures. Since 1997, it has acquired recognized know-how through innovative policies and major projects. The period 2020-2022 will be marked by large-scale river restoration projects on an international scale: the removal of two large dams on the Sélune and the complete reconfiguration of the Poutès dam on the Haut Allier.
It is to tell and share the French experience that ERN has planned to produce a series of audiovisual modules for the general public, as well as micro-videos for social networks. Broadcasting is planned on a national and international scale.

 

Join the global call to protect rivers !

Whether you are an individual, association, or other organization, you can join International Rivers’ call for river conservation. ERN has signed it.

To learn more, and possibly sign, click on: https://www.rivers4recovery.org

Petition to sign against a micro-power plant project on an alpine torrent, in Italy (Valsesia, Piemont)

Another micro-power plant project on an alpine torrent, this time in Italy … What a shame!

Let’s act by signing the petition launched by the committee for the defense of the Sesia and its tributaries, which has been fighting for 30 years – successfully so far – against any hydro project in the wonderful Sesia valley. Unfortunately, in the valley tributary of the Sorba torrent, the small village of Rassa – 67 residents (!) – has managed to get authorization for a 226KW power plant. An absurd project, doomed to be in deficit and above all devastating for the entire surrounding ecosystem. This must be avoided at all costs…
=> See the petition

© Jose Luis Vega _ Shutterstock

Manifesto : STOP new hydropower in Europe

Photo : Hydroelectric power station in Arribes del Duero called Mirador de Iberdrola in Salamanca © Jose Luis Vega _ Shutterstock.jpg

Alongside 150 NGOs, ERN signed a manifesto calling on Europe to stop supporting hydropower.
SEE HERE FOR THE FULL MANIFESTO AND LIST OF SIGNATORIES

To learn more, read below the WWF press release issued on Monday 26 October.

Following World Fish Migration Day, 150 NGOs have banded together to call on the EU institutions to end public financing for new hydropower projects in Europe.

Building more hydropower flies in the face of the European Green Deal’s biodiversity goals, given the small contribution new plants would bring to the energy transition weighted against the environmental damage they cause [1]. WWF, along with signatories such as Climate Action Network Europe and BirdLife ask for public investments to be redirected towards upgrades of existing plants, energy efficiency measures, and lower impact renewable energy alternatives like wind and solar power.  

The mobilisation by NGOs comes a few months after new analysis found that 93% of European freshwater migratory fish had been lost since 1970, partly due to hydropower [2]. While 91% of existing and planned plants in Europe are considered ‘small’ – meaning they have, a capacity below 10MW – and contribute little to the energy mix, their environmental impacts are dramatic.  If these plants go ahead, they will destroy Europe’s last free-flowing rivers and further degrade increasingly vulnerable freshwater ecosystems.

Andreas Baumüller, Head of Natural Resources, WWF European Policy Office said: “The European Commission and the European financial institutions’ continued financing of new hydropower projects completely contradicts the ambitions of the EU Biodiversity Strategy and its goal of restoring 25,000km of free-flowing rivers. Removing financing tools and incentives to new hydropower projects is an increasingly urgent step towards reversing biodiversity loss in the EU, meeting the targets set by the Water Framework Directive, and supporting the European Green Deal.”

Alex Mason, Senior Policy Officer, Climate & Energy, WWF European Policy Office added : “We urgently need to move to a 100% renewable energy system. But the contribution new hydropower could make is trivial compared to the massive ecological damage it would cause. We should be investing in wind and solar instead, combined with demand flexibility and storage.” 

The manifesto calls for:

  • An end to EU subsidising new hydropower plants of all sizes, including via regional policy and Projects of Common Interest funds.
  • An end to European Investment Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development financing for all new hydropower plants in Europe.
  • All new hydropower to be excluded from the list of renewable energies eligible for State Aid.
  • Public finance for new hydropower plants to be reallocated to ecological refurbishments, dam removal projects especially where the dams are now obsolete, and towards other renewable energies like wind and solar power.

SEE HERE FOR THE FULL MANIFESTO AND LIST OF SIGNATORIES

Notes to the editor:

[1] If all the 5,500+ planned hydropower plants in the EU were built, the share of the EU electricity generation provided by hydropower would go from 10% to 11.2-13.9%. Eurostat, 2017; EuroNatur, GEOTA, RiverWatch, WWF, Hydropower pressure on European rivers: The story in numbers, 2019.
[2] IUCN, WFMF, WWF, TNC, ZSL, The Living Planet Index (LPI) for migratory freshwater fish, 2020
[3] Mapping a faster route to zero emissions Europe

Contact:

Alexandra Chevalier
Senior Communications Officer, Water
achevalier@wwf.eu
+32 484 49 43 54

Claire Baffert
Senior Policy Officer, Water
cbaffert@wwf.eu
+32 492 73 10 92

Saturday, October 24th : Participate to World Fish Migration Day!

 

Whether or not you are planning to organize a particular event on this occasion, you are invited to celebrate this day by attending online events organized by the World Fish Migration Foundation :

 

  • Attend live on facebook the meeting between all the event organizers around the world. Click here
  • Discover all the songs written for the Eurofishion, vote, and even participate in the show of the Eurofishion Fishy final from 20h to 21h30 (Central European Time). Don’t forget to book your virtual ticket, and invite whoever you want! More infos here
  • A special webinar on Africa, “Love Flows in Africa”, is scheduled on 24/10, from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm (Central European Time): to see the full program and register, please click here.

 

More infos about World Fish Migration Day and about World Fish Migration Foundation : click here

Colloquium “Climate Stress: Nature to the Rescue of Aquatic Environments” in Paris on October 26, 2010

On Monday, October 26, ERN will co-host the meeting “Climate stress: nature to the rescue of aquatic environments” with IPEC (Sub-Directorate for Pedagogical and Collaborative Innovation/ Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Land Use Planning) and the University of Lorraine. Accessible both in person and remotely, registration is free but compulsory.

Information, registration and program: https://catalogue.ifore.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/content/stress-climatique-la-nature-au-secours-des-milieux-aquatiques

Contact and information: Alexis Pasquet-Venzac – alexis.pasquet [at] ern.org

 

 

 

2020/10/15 : webinar on ” Restoration and Protection of fresh water in Europe”

In partnership with Wetlands international Europe, the Nature Conservancy is organizing
on the occasion of GreenWeek (environment week) and World Migratory Fish Day (October 24)
an English webinar ” Restoration and Protection of fresh water in Europe”
October 15 from 10.30 to 16.00 (French time),

>>Here is the presentation of the webinar and the link to access the programs and registration

Great news for Vjosa!


Photo : Vjosa Valley – Albania – ©R.Epple, ERN France

It is a victory for the lovers and defenders of Vjosa, in Albania. Following the declaration of Albanian President Ilir Meta, Prime Minister Edi Rama has just announced to the media that he is also in favour of the creation of a national park in Vjosa and that the Ministry of the Environment has rejected the Kalivaç dam project.

>> More information on the September 2020 newsletter, published by Balkans Rivers