Advancing freshwater restoration

My Projects

Initiative “United for Rivers”

Barrier removal, the Vezisnica river, Pljevlja Municipality, Montenegro

Key project facts

United for rivers

One of the most important initiatives we have worked on in Montenegro is the "United for Rivers" campaign, a regional effort to protect the last free-flowing rivers of the Western Balkans. In Montenegro, this initiative focuses on safeguarding ecologically valuable rivers such as Ćehotina, Bistrica, Morača, and Mrtvica.

Key Achievements:

1. Legal Protection of Bistrica River:
   Through joint efforts with local and international partners, the Bistrica River was officially granted protected area status. To support its long-term preservation and effective management, the Municipality of Bijelo Polje established a new Agency for the Management of Protected Areas. This represents a crucial institutional step in ensuring the protection of the river’s exceptional biodiversity, cultural heritage, and environmental value.
2. Formal Protection Procedures for Ćehotina, Morača, and Mrtvica Rivers:
   Following the initiative of Eco-Team and as part of the United for Rivers campaign, formal protection procedures are currently underway for the Ćehotina, Morača, and Mrtvica rivers. These processes aim to secure long-term conservation status for these vital freshwater ecosystems and are being conducted in cooperation with local institutions and relevant authorities.
3. Broader Goals:
   
   • Preserve freshwater ecosystems vital to both nature and communities.
   • Prevent unsustainable development, such as dam construction or pollution.
   • Promote nature-based solutions and engage local communities in conservation.
   • Contribute to Montenegro's environmental protection commitments under regional and international frameworks.

This work is carried out in close cooperation with Eco-Team, The Nature Conservancy, and other regional partners, demonstrating the power of cross-border collaboration in protecting the shared natural heritage of the Western Balkans.

Barrier removal, the Vezisnica river, Pljevlja Municipality, Montenegro

One of the most important standalone initiatives we have worked on in Montenegro is the restoration of the Vezišnica River, a tributary of the Ćehotina River, through the removal of river barriers.

Key Achievements:

• In October 2021, Montenegro carried out the first-ever removal of river barriers in the Western Balkans.
• Three illegal and non-functional barriers were removed from the Vezišnica River, allowing it to regain its natural, free-flowing state for the first time in decades.
• This action was implemented through a collaboration between the Municipality of Pljevlja, the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism, WWF Adria, and local civil society organizations.

Goals and Impact:

• Restoration of river connectivity and hydrological continuity, enabling migration of aquatic species and natural sediment transport.
• Improvement of ecological status and biodiversity recovery along the river corridor.
• Pioneering river restoration in the region, setting a precedent for similar actions in the Western Balkans and aligning Montenegro with EU environmental directives and sustainable water management practices. 

This initiative demonstrates a concrete step toward nature-based solutions and highlights the potential for revitalizing degraded freshwater ecosystems through practical, science-based interventions.

What impact did these projects have on biodiversity, if any?

Legal Protection of the Bistrica River has helped safeguard a range of habitats critical for aquatic and riparian species. By preventing harmful activities such as uncontrolled construction, pollution, and habitat fragmentation, the protected status helps maintain the river’s exceptional water quality and biodiversity – including fish, amphibians, macroinvertebrates, and bird species that depend on healthy freshwater environments.

The barrier removal project on the Vezišnica River had a direct and positive impact on aquatic and riparian biodiversity by restoring natural river processes and habitat connectivity.

Key Biodiversity Impacts:

1. Restored Migration Routes for Aquatic Species:
   The removal of three illegal and non-functional barriers allowed fish and other aquatic organisms to move freely upstream and downstream, which is essential for their spawning, feeding, and genetic exchange.
2. Habitat Restoration and Natural Sediment Flow:
   With the river’s flow reconnected, natural sediment transport resumed, helping to re-establish a variety of in-stream habitats.
3. Improved Water Quality and Ecological Conditions:
   The renewed flow dynamics promote better oxygenation and natural self-cleaning of the river, which contributes to the overall recovery of ecological integrity and supports higher biodiversity levels.
4. Regional Conservation Value:
   As the first river barrier removal in the Western Balkans, this initiative sets an important precedent for biodiversity-focused river restoration throughout the region, encouraging similar nature-based solutions.

What work challenges did you face and what approach did you take to solve them?

In both the United for Rivers initiative and the Vezišnica River barrier removal project, we did not encounter significant scientific or technical challenges. The ecological value of the rivers, the need for protection, and the benefits of restoration were well-documented and supported by existing research and international best practices.

The key obstacle we faced was how to persuade decision-makers—at the local and national levels—to recognize the importance of river protection and restoration, and to take formal action.

How we addressed this:

• We invested heavily in stakeholder engagement and advocacy, working closely with municipalities, ministries, and local institutions to build trust and understanding.
• We organized community consultations, expert workshops, and media campaigns to highlight the ecological, cultural, and socio-economic value of free-flowing rivers.