Radio Mundo Real

The Coalition for the Protection of Rivers of Bosnia and Herzegovina warns that the uncontrolled construction of hydropower plants will cause serious biodiversity devastation and negative impacts to the water quality of the country. They are demanding a halt to the building of these dams and propose instead the promotion of a tourism-based development and the practice of traditional activities.

As stated by the Coalition for the Protection of Rivers of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a press release issued late July, more than 300 new hydropower plants are currently planned. A little over 15 days ago, this coalition, which was created in 2016 and gathers over 20 organizations of the country, held a symbolic action (watch video below) in the ruined Idbar dam (located in the valley below Prenj Mountain, Konjic), on the Bašćica River. This dam was built in 1959, and then abandoned. When the river flooded it, the dam cracked, and the consequences could have been catastrophic.

Real World Radio interviewed activist Natasa Crnkovic, chair of the Center for Environment - Friends of the Earth Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is in turn member of the Coalition for the Protection of Rivers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The goal of the interview was to deepen on the warnings of the coalition with reference to the hundreds of small dam projects planned in the country, to know more about their concerns, the current socio-environmental consequences brought by the dams already installed, the actions of the government, the energy situation in general and the action carried out a little over two weeks ago.

For photos by Dinno Kasalo and Luka Tomac visit:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/foeeurope/albums/72157684099024003/with/35986315102/