The project identifies, maps, and prioritises small river barriers in the Radika catchment to enable future removal and restore natural river connectivity and biodiversity.
The project will be implemented in the Radika River catchment, located within Mavrovo National Park in western North Macedonia. The Radika River is a key tributary of the Crn Drim River and represents an important ecological corridor with high biodiversity, cold mountain waters, and well-preserved riparian habitats.
The catchment includes several significant tributaries, including the Mavrovska, Ribnička, and Mala Reka rivers, which contribute to the ecological integrity of the system. The area is part of the Emerald Network of protected sites and supports numerous endemic and protected species such as Balkan trout and Eurasian otter.
Despite its largely natural condition, the river system is partially fragmented by small barriers, affecting connectivity and ecological processes, which underlines the need for restoration efforts.
| Project status | Live |
|---|---|
| Project type | Barrier identification and prioritisation |
| Country | North Macedonia |
| River | Radika River (including Mavrovska, Ribnička and Mala Reka tributaries) |
| Focal species | Balkan trout (Salmo farioides) and Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) |
| Organisation | Initiatives for Civic Integrations (ICI) Gostivar |
| Website | feminiforce.org |
Despite its high ecological value and relatively preserved condition, the Radika River catchment is affected by small hydrotechnical structures such as water intakes, low weirs, and diversion barriers. These structures disrupt natural flow, hinder fish migration, and reduce longitudinal connectivity, leading to gradual habitat degradation.
Currently, there is no comprehensive, field-based inventory of such barriers in the catchment, and available data are fragmented and insufficient for informed river restoration planning.
This project addresses this critical knowledge gap by systematically identifying, mapping, and assessing barriers using field-based surveys and a standardised methodology. It creates an opportunity to establish a reliable evidence base and prioritisation framework for future barrier removal and river restoration actions, contributing to improved ecosystem connectivity, biodiversity conservation, and alignment with EU environmental directives.
The overall goal of the project is to establish a scientific and evidence-based foundation for restoring natural river connectivity in the Radika River catchment.
To achieve this, the project will systematically identify, map, and assess small hydrotechnical barriers across approximately 140-142 km of river network, using field surveys and a standardised national methodology. The collected data will be used to develop a GIS database and prioritisation framework, identifying one to two barriers with the highest potential for removal in a subsequent phase.
Expected outcomes include a comprehensive inventory of barriers, improved understanding of their ecological impacts, and the potential to restore up to 15-20 km of free-flowing river sections. The project will also strengthen stakeholder cooperation and create a replicable model for river restoration in North Macedonia.
This project will directly contribute to unlocking river connectivity and enabling future barrier removals in line with Open Rivers Programme objectives.
Funded by
