Open Rivers Programme

Open Rivers Programme

Two organisations with a common goal

The “Identification of artificial barriers to eliminate for the restoration of habitats and biodiverzity in the Upper Mureș Basin”, financed by Open Rivers Programme – an organisation dedicated to river restoration, is implemented by Romanian Wilderness Society and Milvus Group, in collaboration with Fauna & Flora International. This initiative aims to restore river connectivity and facilitate the migration of fish species by identifying and prioritizing the barriers fragmenting the river ecosystems.

New project launch for free flowing rivers in the Upper Mureș basin

Mureș river and its tributaries, from the spring to Reghin, is one of Romania’s most valuable ecological areas. The river hosts rich biodiversity – from huchen (Hucho hucho) and indigenous trout (Salmo trutta fario) to graylings (Thymallus thymallus) and a series of amphibians and semi-aquatic mammals.

Unfortunately the natural connectivity of the river is fragemnted by several dams and artificial weirs, many of which are not functional or without use. These barriers block the migration of fish, affect water quality and reduce the resilience of the aquatic ecosystems.
To tackle this problem, Romanian Wilderness Society and Milvus Group, with Fauna & Flora International as partner launch the project “Identification of artificial barriers to eliminate for the restoration of habitats and biodiverzity in the Upper Mureș Basin”, financed by Open Rivers Programme.

Our goals

    • Mapping and analyzing over 550 km of rivers and tributaries to identify artificial barriers
    • Ecological impact assessment and prioritisation of barriers for their elimination
    • Data integration into an interactive map
    • Implication of local communities and stakeholders for an inclusive and sustainable approach

Our gain

The project will serve as basics for a coherent ecological restoration plan on river basin level, by producing a detailed inventory of barriers and a priority list for the following actions of barrier elimination and ecosystem restoration. Thus the initiative will contribute to restoring ecological connectivity, biodiversity protection, and enhancing climate change resilience of aquatic ecosystems.

Next steps

In the 2025 April – 2026 March period our team will collect data and conduct expert evaluations. This is the first important step towards healtier rivers and connected habitats in the Eastern Carpathians.
For more information about other projects in Romania and Europe, vist Open Rivers Programme homepage.

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