Focus on Balkan Rivers If this message is not displayed properly, please click here.

Dear friends of EuroNatur,

around three years ago, there was great jubilation when the Vjosa in Albania was declared a Wild River National Park. But the enthusiasm was quickly followed by a sense of disillusionment. Some three years after the Vjosa was designated as ‘Europe’s first wild river national park’, it seems doubtful whether the government in Tirana ever had any genuine interest in protecting it effectively; rather, it gives the impression that Prime Minister Edi Rama simply wants to polish his image by claiming credit for Europe’s first wild river national park. It is hard to interpret in any other way the developments on the Vjosa, which are turning the national park into a so-called ‘paper park’.

Another river gem in the Balkans is at least as endangered as the Vjosa: the Komarnica in Montenegro. There are plans to build a 172-megawatt hydro power plant on the river. However, massive resistance from local nature conservation organisations, international scientists and legal experts has so far prevented the worst from happening. The moving short documentary “Komarnica: The Wild That Remains”, produced with the support of EuroNatur, employs evocative imagery to tell the story of the courageous resistance, led primarily by young women who have made it their mission to document what is at stake. The documentary is an emotional call to action for all those who believe that a wild river is more than just a source of electricity.

With all the negative news surrounding the rivers of the Balkans, it would be easy to lose hope. To prevent that from happening, we’d like to warmly invite you to our river conservation webinar. On Wednesday 15 April at 6 pm, Annette Spangenberg, Head of the Freshwater Programme at EuroNatur, will take you on a journey into the Blue Heart of Europe. In her online talk (in German), Annette Spangenberg will highlight the beauty and the threats facing the river systems of South-Eastern Europe; above all, she will explain how we and our partners, as part of the ‘Save the Blue Heart of Europe’ campaign, have succeeded in saving numerous river landscapes in the Balkans from destruction caused by the construction of hydro power plants. You can find all further details about the event on this page. This newsletter also brings you more spring-themed news: from the breeding habits of popular birds to the discovery of a completely new species 😉 We hope you will enjoy reading it, Your EuroNatur team

Your last chance to… …pop out into the countryside and snap some lovely photos of animals, plants or landscapes as spring begins. Please send in your best shots by 11.59 pm today, 31 March, to photo@euronatur.org. Entry is free and there are great prizes up for grabs for the winners. We look forward to receiving your photos (including those from your archives)! Competition 2026

Spring is in the air… …and so it is for the white storks in the Bulgarian stork village of Belozem where the first pair of these long-legged birds has laid its first egg; a special event every year for the local residents. This year, there is also an exceptional amount going on in the active stork community: from stork village festivals and gatherings, to the tagging of young storks and the repair of stork nests. Click here to find out more

Nature conservation starts with people Frosina Pandurska Dramikjanin is a woman who moves mountains. With unwavering energy, she has fought to make the Shar National Park in North Macedonia a reality. For her, dialogue with local people has always been crucial: listening, building trust, acting together. That is precisely what has made this change possible. Frosina firmly believes that nature conservation begins in the hearts and minds of the local people. She sees the strength of rural communities, particularly women, as the key to sustainable change. Preserving traditional knowledge, inspiring courage, opening up new paths – that is what drives her. Click here to read an interview with Frosina

New mammal species discovered (April Fool's) You’ve no doubt often heard that there are still countless undescribed species in the world. Most are thought to be found in tropical forests, but researchers are also discovering new species in Europe time and time again. Most recently, a previously unknown species was discovered deep in the primeval forests of Eastern Europe: the bear-lynx-wolf! Just how many individuals of this extremely reclusive species exist remains a mystery to researchers, but we are clear that we will take measures to protect the bear-lynx-wolf and ensure its survival… Click here to find out more about EuroNatur’s real projects to protect bears, wolves and lynx

Image rights: Vjosa: Romy Durst; squirrel: Andreas Volz; stork nest: Green Balkans; Frosina Pandurska: Silvana Mielke; bearwolflynx: AI-generated

Nature conservation needs action - and money!  Targeted strategies, efficient methods, sound knowledge, rich practical experience and serious partners in the project areas ensure the success of our work. However, it is only through the commitment of our donors that the existing potential can lead to concrete measures. Donations to charitable foundations such as EuroNatur are tax deductible in Germany. Please use your possibilities to help Europe's nature.

Donate for Europe's nature

Account for donations: 8182001 Account owner: EuroNatur Bank name: SozialBank Köln/Germany IBAN:   DE53 3702 0500 0008 1820 01 SWIFT/BIC: BFSWDE33XXX Code word: Nature conservation in Europe

We would like to address you personally by name in your newsletter. If you also like this, please add your first name, family name and title to your user profile.

Please recommend us to a friend.

If you don't want to receive any more messages (to: unknown@noemail.com), you can unsubscribe here. Möchten Sie den Newsletter lieber auf Deutsch erhalten? Abonnieren Sie ihn hier. If you have been forwarded this newsletter, you can subscribe to it here.

EuroNatur Foundation Westendstraße 3 78315 Radolfzell Germany +49 7732 92720 info@euronatur.org EuroNatur website CEO: Gabriel Schwaderer EuroNatur is a charitable foundation under civil law based in Radolfzell on Lake Constance. Managing director Gabriel Schwaderer is authorised to represent the foundation.The responsible supervisory authority is the Regierungspräsidium Freiburg, file number 14-0563-174. The tax office Singen/Hohentwiel recognises the status of non-profit under the tax number 18153/25263. VAT ID no. DE159626623Donations are tax deductible in Germany. The EuroNatur Foundation is holder of the DZI donation seal.