In a landmark push to revive its freshwater ecosystems, Europe is dismantling river barriers at a record pace. According to the latest figures from Dam Removal Europe (DRE), 542 river barriers were removed across 23 countries in 2024 alone the highest annual tally since the continent-wide initiative began in 2020.
This river barrier removal campaign is part of Europe’s broader commitment to make 25,000 kilometres of rivers barrier-free by 2030, a target set under the European Union’s Nature Restoration Law, adopted in July 2023. With one dam or obstruction for every kilometre of river, Europe faces an uphill task to restore natural flow and reconnect fragmented aquatic habitats.
The surge in removal reflects growing global recognition of the ecological toll of river fragmentation. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in its newly released Frontiers 2025: The Weight of Time report, identifies barrier removal for river restoration as a key environmental priority. The report notes that while dams have historically served societal needs like hydropower, irrigation, and flood control they have disrupted indigenous and fishing communities, altered ecosystems, and blocked fish migration.
Globally, over 62,000 large dams and millions of small barriers obstruct rivers. Europe alone is estimated to have more than 1.2 million in-stream barriers. If the current pace of damming continues, nearly 89% of the world’s river volume could be moderately to severely fragmented by 2030, a stark rise from 43% in 2010, according to UNEP.
Fragmentation affects everything from water flow, sediment transport, and temperature regulation to the habitat quality for fish and other aquatic species. The collapse of inland fisheries due to damming is especially concerning for food security and local economies, particularly in rural areas.
“Removing dams and barriers is an increasingly accepted strategy to restore river health,” UNEP stated, noting momentum not just in Europe but also in North America, where aging and economically unviable dams are being dismantled. The move is also an opportunity for scientists and communities to observe how ecosystems rebound after decades of obstruction.
WWF Netherlands chief Jelle de Jong applauded Europe’s progress, saying, “The rise in removals shows that communities and governments are increasingly seeing the benefits of reconnecting and restoring rivers.”
DRE a coalition of six groups including WWF The Nature Conservancy, The Rivers Trust, and the European Rivers Network has been instrumental in coordinating efforts across nations. The campaign gained momentum with 487 barriers removed in 2023 and another 101 removed earlier this year by 11 countries.
Europe drive follows its earlier acknowledgment of river barriers as a critical environmental stressor in the 2000 Water Framework Directive, which classified dams and weirs as man-made pressures on water bodies.
However while Europe and parts of North America remove outdated infrastructure, much of Africa, Asia, and South America continues to build new hydropower dams, often seen as a green energy source for growing populations. The UNEP report cautions that while hydropower can contribute to clean energy, its development must be carefully planned to avoid irreversible damage to river health.
The way forward, UNEP experts suggest, lies in strategic planning, community involvement, and balancing energy needs with ecological integrity. Europe’s example may offer a blueprint for global restoration, proving that healing rivers is both possible and essential for a sustainable future.