In 2022, a record number of dams were removed from European rivers, helping to restore the health of the freshwater arteries in this part of the world.

The annual report from the Dam Removal Europe (DRE) coalition, a partnership of seven wildlife and environmental protection organisations, shows that 325 barriers were demolished or destroyed in rivers across 16 countries, improving river flow and allowing fish to reach their spawning grounds.

Spain, Sweden and France removed the highest number of river barriers. Latvia and Luxembourg, for their part, reported barrier removals for the first time; 73% of the removed barriers were dams, according to the DRE.

The report emphasises that restoring free-flowing rivers is a significant way to improve biodiversity. Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse are among the top five global threats for the next decade, as highlighted in the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2023.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/08/removing-dams-europe-river-restoration/