Nearly 2,500 kilometers of pristine Balkan rivers lost since 2012

The first comparable regional assessment in over a decade documents the deterioration of many of Europe’s last wild rivers. The share of pristine stretches of the larger ones dropped from 30% to 23% since 2012, or by a staggering 2,450 river kilometres, RiverWatch and EuroNatur said. Albania’s rivers have deteriorated faster than those of any other Balkan country, largely due to hydropower and river regulation.

A comprehensive new assessment of hydromorphological conditions across the Balkans has revealed a dramatic and accelerating deterioration of the region’s renowned pristine waterways. The Hydromorphological Status of Balkan Rivers 2025 report is authored by Ulrich Schwarz of the Fluvius Vienna consultancy.

EuroNatur and RiverWatch have commissioned it as part of the Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign. The study covered 83,824 kilometers of rivers across 11 countries. It revealed that the percentage of nearly natural larger rivers has declined from 30% in 2012 to just 23% in 2025, or by 2,450 river kilometers.

The project provided visual experience with a story map, and an interactive map.

Downward trend throughout Balkans

The study reveals a troubling regional pattern. Larger rivers remain the most impacted due to dams, channelization and sediment disruption. Since 2012, river impoundments in the category have increased by 18% to 2,626 river kilometers. Larger rivers account for 35,530 river kilometers.

Smaller headwater streams are generally in better condition, but pressures are spreading. Hydropower development remains the key driver of degradation. Other major pressures include water abstraction, sediment extraction and infrastructure construction. Conservation efforts have successfully protected approximately 900 river kilometers, primarily by halting hydropower dam projects.

Severely modified stretches, primarily impoundments, make up 7% of the length of larger rivers

Of the larger rivers assessed, 43% show slight modifications, same as in 2012. Moderately to extensively modified rivers account for 27%, which is a surge by six percentage points. Severely modified stretches, primarily impoundments, make up 7% of the network, against 6% in 2012.

The most significant alterations were recorded in the Drina, Neretva, Vardar/Axios, Devoll, and Drin basins. Crucially, while the decline is alarming, the remaining percentages of nearly natural and slightly modified rivers remain significantly higher than in the rest of Europe, underscoring the Balkans’ unique status as the continent’s last major stronghold of pristine rivers.

While the region still retains a comparatively high share of intact rivers, these trends point to a growing divergence between current development practices and the environmental standards required under EU accession frameworks and sustainable river management principles, said Ulrich Schwarz.

Looking at the entire 83,824 river kilometers, 4% is severely modified and 9% extensively. The authors said 33% are wild or nearly wild water streams.

Most intensive deterioration is in Albania

The study concludes that no other Balkan country has lost as many pristine or slightly modified river stretches in the past decade as Albania. Hydropower development, uncontrolled river regulation, water abstraction, and extensive floodplain alteration have reshaped Albania’s river landscapes at unprecedented speed.

“While Albania successfully protected the Vjosa and some of its tributaries, more river stretches were degraded over the past decade than in any other Balkan country. These findings should serve as a wake-up call for the Albanian government to safeguard rivers nationwide, not only in a single basin, particularly given the country’s aspirations to join the European Union,” said RiverWatch’s Chief Executive Officer Ulrich Eichelmann.

Conservation results offer hope

The report notes that recent conservation efforts have successfully protected about 900 kilometers of rivers by halting hydropower projects, establishing new protected areas, and establishing a policy prohibiting small hydropower plants. The declaration of the Vjosa Wild River National Park remains the region’s most important conservation achievement.

Based on the findings, the two organizations called for immediate and coordinated action:

• Strengthen national and EU protection: protect remaining intact rivers through national and international legislation and policies, expand protected areas, and strictly enforce them.
• Halt destructive hydropower development, particularly in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, where river degradation is increasing most rapidly.
• Establish systematic monitoring: all Balkan countries must implement harmonized hydromorphological assessments as a prerequisite for EU accession.
• Restore damaged rivers including barrier removal, floodplain reconnection, reduced riverbed extraction and nature-based restoration measures.
• Prioritize nature and climate resilience: shift away from infrastructure-heavy river regulation towards ecosystem-based flood and drought management.

“As this region’s rivers continue to lose their natural character, the window for meaningful protection is rapidly closing. The Balkans still hold some of Europe’s last wild rivers, but safeguarding them now requires political courage, science-based decision-making, and a clear shift away from destructive practices,” said EuroNatur’s Head of Programme Fresh Water Annette Spangenberg.

The Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign, coordinated by RiverWatch and EuroNatur, aims to protect rivers of high natural value in the Balkans that are threatened by over 3,000 hydropower projects.