Река без барикади (Reka bez barikadi)

The CNN editorial series “Call to Earth” highlights a growing trend of removing outdated dams and barriers across Europe to restore river connectivity and biodiversity. Driven by initiatives like Dam Removal Europe and supported by the EU’s Nature Restoration Regulation, over 600 barriers were removed in 2025, reconnecting thousands of kilometers of rivers and aiming for 25,000 km of free-flowing waterways by 2030. This shift, spurred by concerns over climate extremes and ecosystem fragmentation, is linked to restoring natural processes like sediment flow, reducing water temperatures, and mitigating methane emissions. While challenges remain, including complex project logistics and potential impacts on land use, successful examples in Finland, France, England, and the US demonstrate the rapid recovery of river ecosystems once barriers are removed, signaling a crucial step towards a healthier and more resilient European landscape.