The European Open Rivers Programme is delighted to announce its support for 24 new projects, aimed at restoring the ecological health of endangered European rivers. These initiatives mark significant progress in eliminating obsolete river barriers, bringing rivers back to life, with wide-ranging benefits for nature, biodiversity and local communities.
The recently awarded projects are categorised into five grant types: A1 barrier identification and prioritisation, A2 pre-demolition, A3 and A4 demolition and B enabling others to remove dams. Among the demolition projects, funding will be provided for the removal of 33 barriers, which are expected to open up around 360 kilometres of rivers!
Significantly contributing to this figure is a project led by Rewilding Sweden, which – thanks to a previous Open Rivers Programme grant – has resolved land ownership constraints, worked through cultural heritage concerns, and mapped the path forward to remove five barriers in the Vindelälven catchment, opening over 112 kilometres of river habitat.
© Rewilding Sweden
Pre-demolition projects are also expected to result in significant ecological impact, preparing 29 barriers for removal and ultimately reconnecting 276.6 kilometres of river! An exciting example is the case of the “Let’s free the Pollina River” project in Italy. Led by Collettivo Rewild Sicily in partnership with CIRF, UNISA, and Regione Siciliana, this project will prepare the removal of nine barriers, which eventual demolition will reconnect almost 36 kilometres of upstream river length.
© Mathia Coco
Open Rivers Programme has so far supported 174 projects in 32 European countries. To date, we have supported projects that have removed 89 small dams, reconnecting 884 kilometres of river. Once all currently active projects are completed, a total of 162 barriers will have been removed, reopening almost 2,000 kilometres of river.
