Why Dam Removal?
Rivers provide vital ecosystem services for people, animals and plants. They are the veins of our planet and must be preserved. However, dams and other types of barriers disrupt the natural functioning of rivers, causing a severe decline in fish populations and other unique freshwater species.Dam removal is an effective tool to return rivers to their natural, free-flowing state and prevent biodiversity loss.
Dam Removal Europe network
Dam Removal Europe (DRE) network is a coalition of 7 organizations: the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF), The Rivers Trust, The Nature Conservancy, the European Rivers Network, Rewilding Europe, Wetlands International, and the World Fish Migration Foundation (WFMF). The network was founded in 2016 with the ambition of restoring the free-flowing state of rivers and streams in Europe. One of DRE’s main goals is to establish barrier removal as a restoration tool and to mainstream this practice across Europe – and the world!What we’ve been doing
6744
dams and barriers removed
(not including 2022)
(not including 2022)
24
countries that have removed dams
53
case studies
7
DRE International seminarsr
To keep freeing rivers across Europe and scale up the movement faster, we need your help. Become a friend of the foundation by making a donation and supporting our work!
#DamBusters: The start of the Riverlution!
Follow the journey of Pao Fernández Garrido and movie director Francisco Campos-Lopez Benyunes across five European countries to learn why barriers are being removed and who are the river heroes behind it. Watch the documentary by clicking the button below!
The documentary film is commissioned and co-produced by World Fish Migration Foundation, WWF, and Magen Entertainment, with the support of Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy, the European Anglers Alliance, Nationale Postcode Loterij, the Life Programme of the European Union, Mulago, Biohabitats and the ForestPeace Foundation.”
Process
Dam removal is already taking place in some parts of Europe. These removals are local initiatives driven by many enthusiastic community members and stakeholders. However, there are still at least 100,000 obsolete barriers that are fragmenting and choking our rivers! Now, is the time to locate and remove them to restore life and biodiversity to Europe's freshwater ecosystems. Often, lack of awareness, knowledge, support and funding for dam removals are bottlenecks. The Dam Removal Europe coalition provides support for and addresses each of these challenges to allow for not only more dam removals but also to reenforce removal projects with the proper tools. Through this predominantly bottom up process, we can create a holistic approach to remove dams and reap the benefits.
