The Association for Biological Diversity Conservation (ACDB) has embarked on an ambitious project to address aquatic habitat fragmentation in the Putna river catchment, aiming to enhance biodiversity and restore the river’s natural flow. This initiative seeks to inventory, map, and prioritize the removal of barriers within the river system, which currently disrupt the ecosystem and impact local biodiversity and communities relying on the river for water, agriculture, fishing, and tourism.

The project will be carried out in four key phases over 12 months. The first phase involves creating a comprehensive GIS database to map all barriers, followed by an in-depth analysis to prioritize the removal of high-impact obstacles. Stakeholder engagement and public consultations will be conducted to foster local support, while an awareness campaign will educate communities about the ecological and social benefits of barrier removal. The final phase will result in a detailed action plan, setting a clear roadmap for sustainable restoration efforts.

With this project, ACDB reinforces its commitment to nature conservation and sustainable development, ensuring a brighter future for the Putna river and its surrounding ecosystems.

The project is financed by the European Open Rivers Programme – a grant-giving organisation dedicated to restoring rivers’. www.openrivers.eu