The Map
This map portrays the Upper Neretva River as experienced by some members of the local community, including families, activists, fishermen and conservationists. It offers a counter-narrative to the extractivist view that values the river solely for resource exploitation, instead of celebrating its cultural, ecological, and personal significance.
Created in collaboration with Zeleni Neretva through workshops and focus groups in 2024, the map blends stories, traditions, and scientific insights. It highlights the risks posed by hydropower development, pollution, and deforestation while showcasing what can still be preserved.
By uniting the visions of scientists and locals, this map underscores the need to protect the river for future generations. Led by the River Collective, it exemplifies how combining art, science, and community action can inspire stewardship and sustainable futures for free-flowing rivers.
The Threat
Neretva River faces significant threats from hydropower development, which could irreversibly alter this delicate ecosystem. Preserving the Upper Neretva is not only about saving a river but about safeguarding a vital lifeline for biodiversity, culture, and local communities.
The Upper Neretva River, a free-flowing section of the 230 km-long Neretva River, is one of Europe’s most biodiverse river ecosystems. This karstic valley, celebrated for its ecological significance and stunning natural landscapes, is home to unique species such as the Adriatic trout and white-throated dipper. However, the river faces significant threats from hydropower development, which could irreversibly alter this delicate ecosystem.
Across the Neretva basin, plans for over 70 hydropower plants (HPPs) risk transforming much of the river network into reservoirs. On the Upper Neretva alone, 24 HPPs are proposed, with one, HPP Ulog, the first to be constructed. These projects threaten the river’s rich habitat diversity and would fragment a vital ecological corridor. The uniquely diverse habitats of the Upper Neretva support more than 1,300 animal and plant species, many of which are rare or endangered.
In addition to the immediate loss of biodiversity, hydropower development endangers local communities that rely on the river for their livelihoods. While some residents have believed they would benefit from short-term economic opportunities, such as construction jobs, which have yet to come to fruition, others are grappling with the long-term consequences of losing their natural heritage. The Upper Horizon Project, for instance, poses a threat to critical karst springs and interconnected waterways that sustain local ecosystems and agriculture.
Call to action
With so many threats to the beautiful rivers of BiH and the greater Balkan rivers, endless support to defend these rivers is needed.
Become a business member
We organise online and in-person activities to bring together young people who want to turn their knowledge into action for the protection of rivers. With your support, we can give more youth the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines.
