In 2023, Europe set a record by removing 487 dams and other river obstacles, according to a report by Dam Removal Europe (DRE). This is a 50% increase compared to the previous year and has reconnected more than 4,300 kilometers of rivers, restoring ecosystems, enhancing climate resilience, and boosting biodiversity.
France led the way in removing barriers, followed by Spain, Sweden, and Denmark. The European Union’s Nature Restoration Act aims to restore at least 25,000 kilometers of rivers by 2030, but the legislation is currently uncertain. Obsolete barriers are dangerous and harmful to rivers, and removing them is essential for the health of rivers and the environment.
