Free-flowing rivers support wildlife and carry sediment and nutrients through the landscape — yet across Europe, thousands of dams prevent them from functioning as they should. Removing these barriers is one of the quickest and most effective ways to rewild a river, but every removal depends on careful preparation that can take months or even years.

The removal of dams and other barriers is one of the best ways to rewild rivers and enhance the benefits they deliver to people and nature. Dam Removal Europe’s latest progress report – which reveals a record number of dams were removed from European rivers in 2024 – shows the European dam removal movement continuing to gather pace.

Supported by funding from the Open Rivers Programme, the Rewilding Apennines team have overseen the removal of five barriers on the Giovenco River. This is a critical step forward in restoring the natural dynamics of the river system, breathing new life into the landscape and delivering benefits to local communities.

The removal of dams has proven to be the most environmentally efficient and cost-effective way of restoring rivers, bringing wide-ranging benefits to both people and wild nature. Dam Removal Europe’s latest progress report shows an increase of 137% of barriers removed compared to the previous year, confirming the growing movement and interest in restoring rivers in Europe.

For many years a network of dykes and canals have choked the life out of the Danube Delta. Rewilding efforts in the Ukrainian part of the delta are now restoring water flow, enhancing wildlife populations and benefitting local communities.

Removing dams is the most efficient way to restore rivers. A memorandum of understanding between Rewilding Europe and NGO Älvräddarna will see both partners collaborate to take dam removal forwards in Sweden.

Seize the moment and help us develop a scalable business model for the removal of Swedish dams.

Removing dams is the best way of restoring rivers. The last European Rewilding Network webinar of 2019 saw 10 members come together to explore the topic and exchange experience and expertise.

Financed by crowdfunding, the removal of 10 obsolete dams on the Kogilnik and Sarata Rivers will help to restore wild nature and should provide economic benefit to local communities.

Thousands of dams and other man-made obstacles fragment the world’s waterways. Their removal, which is now happening at an increasing rate in many European countries, is the best way to breathe new life into rivers and local economies.