Austrian Environmentalists Defend Neretva River

31 August 2006

The Naturschutzbund (leading Austrian conservation NGO) delegation has visited recently the upper basin of Neretva River, to get better insight in the existing environmental problems, i.e. plans for construction of high dams on the river.

Neretva River

Representatives of Naturschutzbund has made several visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina, to gather information on environmental situation in several areas (waterway protection, waste management, etc). This last visit is specially dedicated to the protection of Neretva River.

They were presented with the latest information on the river and the plans to construct high dams on Neretva by their host organization, Zeleni-Neretva association.

The Austrian Environmental Protection Union is strongly opposed to construction of high dams on upper Neretva and intends to inform the EU Ministry of Environment about the plans and the danger they present to the river.

Also, the Union will use the EU institutions to pressure the bodies and institutions of B&H Federation regarding adherence and implementation of EU legislation, having in mind the impact that the process may have on the process of B&H accession to the EU.

Source: www.ekomrezabih.net, Amir Vari�čić, Zeleni-Neretva-Konjic