Rivers of the Balkans

Rivers of the Boreal Uplands vary greatly in size and hydrological regime. The most typical feature of all rivers is their importance in valleys as landscape elements and as key economic centers. To reduce perturbations and maintain catchments for coming generations, 388 parts of or entire catchments are protected through a special Protection Plan for Watercourses, and 52 rivers (represent 75% of the Atlantic salmon biomass in the region) have been selected as National Salmon Watercourses to protect areas for the wild Atlantic salmon. At present, two major challenges exist. A major interest in building small hydropower schemes (installed effect <10 MW) has taken place in recent years. The second challenge is related to floods and the use of land near river corridors. Problems arise in areas where the river corridor is a major part of the area available for human activity.