Roundtable on Water Management at the House of the European Union during the opening of the "Guardians of the Rivers" Exhibition
At the opening of the "Guardians of the Rivers" photography exhibition at the House of the European Union in Ljubljana in April 2025, we also held a roundtable titled "Water Management: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?". Brina Sotenšek from the Lutra Institute presented the current environmental legislation, which alarmingly tends toward excluding civil society from legal procedures. It seems that the government is even trying to bypass the results of the so-called water referendum away from public scrutiny. She also highlighted the still controversial practice of investors selecting the impact assessment experts themselves. Damjan Habe from the Revivo Institute discussed the urgency of nature-based solutions, comparing flood protection measures in Slovenia and Valencia, which has suffered catastrophic floods with many fatalities. He also talked about the European directive that envisions removing barriers on rivers. Slovenia is lagging behind in Europe, and we are still waiting for the first (obsolete) dam to be dismantled here. The situation in Slovenia is therefore quite poor; the nature conservation profession remains unheard, and river management is still largely viewed as a good business.
Conversation with Local Activists at Goriška Library During the Opening of the "Guardians of Rivers" Exhibition
At the opening of the photographic exhibition "Guardians of Rivers" in the welcoming setting of the Goriška Franceta Bevka Library in March 2025, we also conducted a conversation with three local environmental activists: Nataša Dominka from Za Čisto Reko Vipava, Mateja Sattler, representative of Eko Anhovo and the Soča Valley, and Mojca Mejak from Eko Bistrc.
There were loud warnings that environmental safeguards are falling, making a strong civil society even more important in this area. However, the current authorities do not want environmental protectors to exist among citizens, as evidenced by the adoption of various regulations that increasingly push civil society out of decision-making processes. As the Anhovo case shows, the seemingly political support against environmental pollution is merely a dead letter on paper, without real political will and power. The authorities clearly prioritize capital, even when dealing with such severe polluters as Alpacem (the former Salonit Anhovo). It has been a year since the adoption of the amendment to the Environmental Protection Act, which introduces stricter requirements for emissions from co-incineration facilities, yet nothing has happened so far!
The case of the fight against Lesonit in Ilirska Bistrica, involving efforts across multiple generations, also shows that the authorities and capital expect civil society to tire out before achieving their goals.
Despite great pessimism, there were also encouraging words, emphasizing that persistence is necessary and victories can be achieved through the courts.
Guardians of Rivers on a visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and Albania
In April Guardians of Rivers team visited several activists for rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and Albania who, in cooperation with local residents, jointly prevented the construction of dozens of small hydropower plants in the region. We have met representatives of various civic initiatives united in the “Coalition for the Protection of the Rivers of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, in Serbia with the organization “Studenac Nova Varoš”, in Kosovo with nature conservationists who oppose hydropower plants on their rivers, and in Albania with activists who fight against the dam Skavica, which would flood the entire region and drive tens of thousands of people from their homes. Corrupt local politicians sell Balkan nature to foreign corporations, which make construction interventions that would never be allowed in their home countries.
Along the way, we have also noticed great demographic devastation, as many young people have moved away. Some areas are extremely vulnerable when foreign companies or domestic investors come there, who, with the support of corrupt politicians, want to take over water resources and put
even the smallest rivers into pipes and build small hydroelectric power plants to make more profit. In many places they have unfortunately, succeeded. Destructive interventions in rivers, which are literally killing them, often take place without obtaining the appropriate permits and without considering opinion of the local community.
On the other hand, more and more local groups, initiatives, societies and residents are active in the Balkans, fighting for the protection of rivers on local, regional, national and international levels. Wherever people have resisted destructive interventions with their own bodies, campaigns and legal means, they have achieved victories and are marching towards new ones together (among them the Bosnian initiatives “Let me flow”, which protected the river Neretvica from 15 small hydroelectric plants, and “The Brave Women of Krušica”, who protested on the bridge for 500 days to prevent the destruction of the local river).
The Guardians of the Rivers project will join efforts to raise awareness and connect with the exhibition's journey through the Balkans and it’s expansion, so that it will eventually include guardians from the entire region.
Meeting of river guardians in Matajun
A new meeting of river guardians from all over Slovenia was held in the spirit of connection, exchange of experiences, transfer of knowledge, support and enjoyment in good company. It took place in Matajun in the Karst region. The meeting was primarily devoted to the problem of
pollution of Slovenian rivers. The participants, local river activists, as well as experts and representatives of the regional Park Škocjanske jame, learned about problems in local environments and possible solutions. In most cases, the problems are similar; disregarding of environmental laws
and regulations, inefficient control over violators, also due to a lack of environmental inspectors, inadequate conduct of the Directorate for Water, lack of knowledge about nature based solutions, ignorance of local authorities, corruption of the politicians and lack of awareness of residents
regarding river pollution, combined with fear of exposure.
Fortunately rivers also have their guardians. Behind civic initiatives, groups of associations and regional parks are hearty individuals who devote their free time to protecting our common good-our rivers and our nature.
The meeting was attended by representatives of initiatives and organizations Za čisto reko Vipavo, Eko Bistrc, Reši sotočje, Varuhi kanjona reke Kokre, Savski Gusarji in Zavod Revivo.
The event was organized by Guardians of Rivers with the support of the Park Škocjanske jame and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Slovenia.
Documentary movie “Community”
We are happy to share with you a short documentary movie “Community” which describes joint efforts to protect rivers in the Balkans, where civil society (activists, conservationists, villagers, etc.) work in difficult conditions (physical violence, political threats and lawsuits from investors.)
Movie shows examples of good practices, persistence and real victories in several countries, especially when it comes to preventing the construction of hydroelectric power stations. Part of the film was filmed at the meeting of Balkan activists in Montenegro, which was also attended by a representative of the Guardians of the Rivers.
The film is available at; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnRhEBxj1aU
The opening of Guardians of the Rivers exhibition in Knežak
The group photography exhibition Guardians of the Rivers returned to the vicinity of the Reka river. The exhibition traveled to Knežak at the invitation of photographer Stojan Spetič, who photographed a group of elementary school girls for the exhibition, and FotoKlub Sušec Ilirska Bistrica.
The opening coincided with the celebration of the birthday of the poet Dragotin Kette, which marked the beginning of the month of culture in the municipality of Ilirska Bistrica.
The exhibition will be on display at the Pumpa bar in Knežak until February 23.
Children’s play “A Pledge to the river” back to primary schools
The interactive children's play A Pledge to the river, which educates younger schoolchildren about the significance of river protecting, has returned to primary schools. This time we visited Košana Elementary School and Anton Žnideršič Elementary School in Ilirska Bistrica. Visits to elementary schools are held in collaboration with the Škocjanske Jame Park.
Public guidance at the Guardians of the Rivers exhibition at Ljubljana Castle
On the Slovenian National Day of Culture, we conducted public guidance of the group photography exhibition Guardians of the Rivers. The artist Špela Kaplja told the audience how to connect profoundly with rivers and the project’s producer Alja Bulič revealed the stories behind the photos.
