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SARAJEVO, November 28 (FENA) - The "Declaration on the environment friendly use of rivers in the Western Balkan" was adopted today at an international conference "Legal and practical tools for protecting the rivers of the Western Balkans and their people" which is being held in Sarajevo.
The aim of the conference, organized by non-governmental organization Arnika from the Czech Republic, Center for Environment from BiH, WWF Adria, is to stimulate discussion on legal and practical tools for river protection, exchange of international experiences and search for synergy in river protection.
Participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia stated that the Western Balkan countries are unique, with vast numbers of pristine rivers providing habitats for rare endemic species of plants and animals, but that these gems of nature are endangered by the uncontrolled construction of hydro power plants.
According to Irma Popović Dujmović from WWF Adria, the main threats to freshwater river systems in Europe and the world are hydro power projects.
“The Balkan countries abound in natural resources, but we are constantly destroying them without any plan, without real benefit. The local community and the state have no benefit from these projects -because of the subsidies it gives to generate electricity from renewable sources,” said Irma Popović Dujmović.
It also stated that more than 300 dams are planned on just 244 rivers in BiH, and about 2,700 hydro plants across the region, and their construction is irreversibly damaging the environment and violating the rights of local communities, causing reduction in drinking water resources.
Therefore, as stated by Vice President of the Center for Environment Viktor Bjelić, the Declaration contains three basic requirements: the preamble in which the conference participants refer to international treaties, laws, etc., as well as problems and pressures on rivers and demands for governments of the Western Balkans.
“The most important requirement is the introduction of a moratorium on the construction of small hydro power plants, the requirement for revision of all strategic plans, programs and documents that can or have an environmental impact on our rivers, and their putting into a procedure that is legally binding,” said Bijelić.
Chairman of Arnika, Martin Skalsky believes the Declaration is a step forward in the fight for the protection of rivers in the Western Balkans.
“Rivers and ecosystems are threatened by plans to build a large number of hydro power plants. All these plans should be reviewed on the basis of more detailed information and through public participation. Hydroelectric power plants are presented as clean energy, but the construction and operation of hydroelectric power plants cause permanent damage to the environment and the local population,” Skalsky emphasized.
(FENA) A. B.
