The River Collective visited the Abruzzo and Molise region in Central Apennines in Italy, in a project collaboration with Amici del Volturno and Coordinamento No Pizzone 2, a dedicated activist association resisting the construction of the destructive Pizzone II hydropower plant. Together, these groups organized the Volturno River Week to rekindle local ties to their rivers and mobilize for its protection.
We explored the surrounding river ecosystems, conducted a river Bioblitz to document local species, and gathered for community theater and poetry readings. Beyond these events, local team members conducted field interviews using a participatory framework designed to capture personal stories and historical insights with the home river.
These interview materials are now being woven into an artistic community map of the Volturno River. Designed to highlight the social and cultural relationships connecting people to their river, this map will serve as both a living cultural archive and a tool for ongoing resistance against harmful infrastructure project proposals. We are grateful for this collaboration with Amici del Volturno, Coordinamento No Pizzone 2, and everyone who joined to protect their home waters.
Photos by: Bruno D’Amicis
