Free-flowing rivers are lifelines that ensure the health of ecosystems and support biodiversity. Through the initiative to restore the longitudinal connectivity of rivers, funded by the Open Rivers Programme and implemented by Rewilding Romania in partnership with Aqua Crisius, 82 barriers were identified in the Cerna-Belareca, Pârâul-Rece, Feneș, Sebeș, and Bistra river basins. Many of these structures built on river courses have lost their functionality, are obsolete, and are in an advanced state of degradation. Nevertheless, their impact on nature is still as present.
The European Initiative for River Restoration
There are more than 1 million barriers in Europe, including dams, weirs, sluices, fords, and other constructions that fragment rivers and negatively impact aquatic and riparian ecosystems.
A study shows that worldwide, of the 177 rivers longer than 1,000 km analysed, only 64 have uninterrupted flow without human-made barriers—that’s less than 40%.
Recognising the scale of the problem, the lack of funding in this area, and the unique opportunity to create a significant positive impact, the charitable foundation Arcadia created the Open Rivers Programme, which began financing initiatives for barrier removal in October 2021.
About Rewilding
Rewilding is a progressive approach to conservation. It’s about letting nature take care of itself, enabling natural processes to shape land and sea, repair damaged ecosystems and restore degraded landscapes. Through rewilding, wildlife’s natural rhythms create wilder, more biodiverse habitats. Natural processes occur among the species that inhabit the ecosystem and happen everywhere—in the air, on the surface, underground, and, of course, in water. The health of an ecosystem depends on the health of the rivers that run through it. Using scientific research, rewilding helps identify species capable of restarting natural processes to trigger a chain reaction that revitalises habitats.
Rewilding Rivers
An ecosystem is like a mechanism in which every part is essential to function properly. And if every species, no matter how small, is important, how important is the river water that keeps nature alive?
In 2024, together with our partners from Aqua Crisius, we accessed €74,700 through the Open Rivers Programme to launch the first essential stage in removing barriers from five river basins in the Southwestern Carpathians: Cerna-Belareca, Pârâul-Rece, Feneș, Sebeș, and Bistra.
The goal of this initiative is to restore the longitudinal connectivity of rivers by identifying and removing small-scale barriers that no longer serve their intended purpose or are in an advanced state of disrepair.
We want both nature and people to thrive together, and river restoration is a crucial step.
Here are just a few benefits of clean, free-flowing rivers:
- They transport sediments essential for fish reproduction and nutrients that fertilise nearby agricultural land and sustain aquatic and riparian ecosystems.
- Free flow maintains the integrity of natural self-regulation systems and supports natural water filtration, making it easier to obtain clean drinking water.
- Fish species that spawn upstream and other migratory species can form healthy populations.
- Rivers become healthy environments and pleasant recreational spaces for people.
- Nearby crops benefit from clean water and nutrients that enhance soil fertility and boost harvests.
- Free-flowing rivers help reduce flood risks and mitigate the effects of pollution.
Actions and Results of the First Phase of the “Rewilding Rivers in the Southern Carpathians” Initiative
Objective 1 – Inventory of barriers in the five selected river basins
A total of 82 barriers were identified, including 34 dams and 36 weirs.
Objective 2 – Preliminary ecological impact study
A preliminary study was conducted to assess the ecological impact of barriers in the Southwestern Carpathians.
Objective 3 – Selection of barriers for removal
In the next phase of the initiative, the necessary technical documentation will be prepared for removing the selected barriers.
Objective 4 – Public meetings
Meetings were held to present the actions and next steps of the initiative, as well as the benefits barrier removal could bring to nature and local communities. These meetings took place in 3 administrative-territorial units within the Belareca, Bistra, and Sebeș basins.
About the Open Rivers Programme
Open Rivers Programme was born from two years of in-depth research and collaboration with stakeholders, uncovering an urgent need: Europe’s rivers are fragmented by approximately one million dams, with enormous potential for ecological restoration through dam removal. This research highlighted the impact of barriers on biodiversity loss and demonstrated how dam removal can swiftly revive river flow and restore ecosystems. However, it also revealed a limited understanding of these benefits and only a few organisations actively promoting and funding dam removal at the European level.
Recognising the scale of the issue, the funding gap, and the unique opportunity for impact, Arcadia, a charitable foundation that works to protect nature, preserve cultural heritage and promote open access to knowledge, enabled the creation of the Open Rivers Programme in Spring 2021. To lead and manage this effort, a new not-for-profit entity (ANBI status), “Stichting European Open Rivers Programme”, was established in the Netherlands on 25 June 2021 to manage and implement the Programme.
The Programme officially began operating in October 2021, providing grants specifically for removing small dams and restoring Europe’s endangered rivers.