EuroNatur - Stiftung Europäisches Naturerbe

👩🔬🔬 Science can be an adventure! A multidisciplinary team of scientists worked together to carry out extensive field research on the Sarantaporos River in Greece. The Sarantaporos River is a tributary of the Aoos River, also known as #Vjosa on the Albanian side of the border. 🌊 Confusing? Just a little bit. The scientists were united by a common mission: to bring the entire Aoos/Vjosa River river basin under a common protection status by creating a Transboundary Wild River National Park that would be unique in Europe. One river, two names, but protected on both sides of the border. 👉 Read more about the Sarantaporos Science Week: https://lnkd.in/eXRn3cq2 Stay tuned for the final report coming later this year! Tara Ariell Sukic Leonard Sonten Annette Spangenberg Anika Konsek Roxanne Diaz EcoAlbania JOSHUA LIM Photos: Sarantaporos and scientists © Aris Giannoukos, European eel © Joshua D. Lim #BalkanRivers #SaveTheBlueHeartOfEurope

Sharing here one of the results from my work as part of the Project Team from BESTbelt. It is really rewarding to be part of this interesting project. Conference 2024 https://lnkd.in/ebeRjEjy BESTbelt Project website https://lnkd.in/ezre28pj

Can Lynx Be Saved in the Balkans? In the mountains of Polis - Gur i Zi – Valamara in Albania and Mavrovo National Park in North Macedonia, biologists from PPNEA and the Macedonian Ecological Society trek through forests, rain, and remote terrain, collecting vital data through camera traps to monitor the Balkan lynx. It’s a challenging mission: fewer than 40 individuals are left in the wild, and rapid industrialization, illegal killing, and habitat destruction threaten to drive them into extinction. Yet, there is hope. On one of these field trips, the team spots a lynx caught on camera, a rare moment. The patterns on its tawny coat allow them to identify it as potentially a new individual, signaling a glimmer of hope for this fragile population. Read the story from the field, highlighting the work of local scientists and conservationists to save the critically endangered Balkan lynx, as shared by Emily Soreghan in Smithsonian Magazine. Link: https://lnkd.in/duxT6w_x EuroNatur Foundation Stiftung KORA Macedonian Ecological Society #ERAgroup #PPNEA #BalkanLynx #BalkanLynxRecoveryProgramme #SaveTheLynx

💶 🍀 EU funds play a crucial role in financing nature restoration and conservation projects in central and eastern Europe. However, it's concerning that some EU-funded projects still pose a threat to biodiversity. We've closely monitored harmful and potentially damaging projects to understand what makes a project harmful and why decision-makers need to delve deeper into the details of all projects. Here are some key recommendations to prevent harmful projects and avoid unpleasant surprises: 🔹 Clearly define project/investment parameters before approval, including timelines, geographic boundaries, and activities. 🔹 Systematically consider cumulative and indirect negative impacts. 🔹 Ensure adequate time and inclusivity in public participation processes. 🔹 Regularly reassess policy decisions to balance development goals with environmental needs for local communities. Explore more recommendations and learn from 8 case studies here: https://lnkd.in/daYR9-8A It's vital that EU funds support projects that prioritize nature and avoid harm. #EUFunding #NatureConservation #BiodiversityPreservation

Transboundary Brown Bear Conservation Kick-Off Meeting The Transboundary Brown Bear Conservation (TBBC) project has officially launched the first meeting in Berat. Partner organizations EuroNatur Foundation, Καλλιστώ, Македонско еколошко друштво, Eko-svest, and PPNEA have united in their commitment to advancing brown bear conservation efforts across the Southwestern Balkans. Building on previous successes, the team is set to strengthen initiatives aimed at protecting this species and its habitat in the region over the next two years by focusing on several key areas: • Promoting Cooperation for Transboundary Brown Bear Conservation • Enhancing Habitat Connectivity • Conducting Transboundary Monitoring in Key Connectivity Areas Between Three Countries • Mitigating Human-Bear Conflicts • Addressing Ongoing Wildlife Crime Issues • Increasing Awareness and Engagement In light of the various needs for conserving the broader Dinaric-Pindos Brown Bear Population, #TBBC will concentrate its efforts on the transboundary mountainous regions between Albania, Greece, and North Macedonia. #TBBC #TransboundaryBrownBearConservation #BrownBear

From 15 to 17 October, I represented EuroVelo 13 - #IronCurtainTrail as Cultural Route of the Conseil de l'Europe and ICTr Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme project at the #BestBelt Conference organised by the European Green Belt Association in Jurmala, Latvia. 🌱 Nature protection along the European Green Belt: It was really inspiring to be surrounded by environmentalists from Finland to Türkiye, via Central Europe and the Balkan countries, implementing diverse, meaningful and communty-led projects. 'Borders seperate, nature unites'. Very pleased to learn about the strong support from European institutions: e.g. #NatureRestauration Law just adopted; European Green Belt as pilot project of the European Parliament - BestBelt project cc Jutta Paulus 🤝 Synergies between EuroVelo 13 - Iron Curtain Trail and the European Green Belt initiative: Our similarities are a strength! Both EuroVelo 13 and #EGB transform the heritage of the Iron Curtain demonstrating that Europe, peace and nature have enormous potential. We should echo each others' work more. That is why I attended this event and it confirmed the relevance of intensifying our partnership. Let's stay in touch! 🚲 EuroVelo 13 along the Latvian coast: During my short stay, I noticed the cycling and walking paths along the main road, offering a safe and continuous option for active mobility for the diverse users I have seen (gender, age, etc). EuroVelo 13 signs were missing though. Fun fact: people cycle on the Baltic beach with thin tires! cc EuroNatur Foundation Gabriel Schwaderer Jessica Bitsch

🌊✨ I don't post as often as I should, but I wanted to reflect on an inspiring experience at the Balkan River Summit in Podgorica (Montenegro) two weeks ago! Apart from discussing rivers as cultural landscapes, I had the privilege to co-facilitate a workshop on visual storytelling alongside the talented Bruno D'Amicis. Though Bruno and I only spoke once before meeting in person, we quickly connected to create a dynamic and fun workshop. Drawing inspiration from Studio Ghibli, we encouraged participants to develop their storyboards, showcasing how different perspectives can emerge from a shared source of inspiration. It was fascinating to witness the creativity and diversity in storytelling, all based on common archetypes, with presentations averaging just one minute! A big thank you to The Nature Conservancy and the EuroNatur Foundation for the opportunity and to all the participants for their incredible work! 🌍💚 #BalkanRiverSummit #VisualStorytelling #EuroNatur #Creativity #Storytelling

It was an honor and a great pleasure to deliver a keynote speech at the commencement of the Balkan River Summit organized by EuroNatur Foundation, RiverWatch and NGO Montenegrin Ecologists Society in Podgorica Montenegro, from 29 September to 3 October. Initiated in 2012, the Blue Heart of Europe campaign for the defence of wild rivers and freshwater ecosystems in the Balkans has evolved into a strong, inclusive, and interconnected movement. While the challenges remain very significant, it is energizing to witness the increasing momentum of this movement and to applaud its accomplishments thus far. For further details, please check the press release : https://lnkd.in/edm57fyG

📅 [Coming soon] Tackling the biodiversity crisis should be a top priority. #EUfunds represent significant opportunities for financing nature, yet their potential is often not fully used. Join us to discover projects that are ‘led by nature’ and discuss how to use EU funds wisely to #restorenature. 👉 Register for the webinar: https://lnkd.in/dCNWtsvk EU Environment and Climate EuroNatur Foundation Green Liberty | Zaļā brīvība Zelena akcija / FoE Croatia

#GoodNews to start the week? 🗞️ Dive into the latest success stories around the #BalkanRivers, which would not have been possible without the inspiring people behind them. 🧑🤝🧑 🔍 https://bit.ly/4eEs9XJ Want a taste? The Una River in #Croatia was saved from an illegal dam after over a month of fierce protests by local communities, activists and people from around the world. A big win for nature and people in the #SaveTheBlueHeart of Europe project! 💙 Thanks to my colleague and author Anja Nieden, and to all the #journalists who are reporting on these pressing conservation issues in the Balkans. Credits to Sanja Sevo (photo 1) and Solutions4You LLC. Annette Spangenberg Amelie Huber Tara Ariell Sukic Roxanne Diaz Cornelia Wieser Jelena Popovic JOSHUA LIM EuroNatur Foundation ClientEarth Patagonia