Dam Removal Europe’s annual report for 2023 showcases a record 500 barriers removed from European rivers across 15 countries in 2023. This represents an impressive 50% increase over last year’s record.
This initiative, led by France, Spain, Sweden, and Denmark, reconnected over 4,300 km of river, reviving previously fragmented ecosystems and enhancing ecological connectivity, migratory fish populations, and climate resilience.
Over 1.2 million barriers fragment European rivers, causing significant biodiversity loss and a decline of 93% in freshwater migratory fish populations in Europe and 76% globally. Among these, more than 150,000 barriers are considered obsolete. The aging dams pose not only ecological threats but also risks to nearby communities, especially as climate change intensifies storms and flooding, increasing the likelihood of dam failures.
Read the full report here. For further information, please contact Paul Brotherton
