A pioneering mortgage from Rewilding Europe Capital has enabled one among a collection of dams on the Stångån River in central Sweden to be eliminated. The elimination represents an essential step in direction of realising the free stream of water within the river, benefitting a variety of fish and different wildlife species.
Torbjorn Bergkvist
In the direction of free-flowing water
A 100,000-euro interest-free mortgage from Rewilding Europe Capital – Rewilding Europe’s enterprise mortgage facility – has facilitated the elimination of a dam on the River Stångån in central Sweden, south of town of Sundsvall. The Ovansjö dam was one among 4 on the river which have been eliminated this 12 months. An additional 4 dams on the Stångån are scheduled for demolition in 2025 and 2026, which can liberate 30 kilometres of waterway, enhancing fish migration and enhancing the general well being of the riverine ecosystem.
“We need to take away all of the obstacles on the Stångån in order that water can stream naturally, habitats are linked, and fish can migrate freely and reproduce,” says Joel Norlin, who’s managing the dam elimination course of as deputy common secretary of the Swedish Anglers Affiliation (Sportsfiskarna), which acquired the mortgage. “We all know that highly effective measures are wanted if we’re to get fish again in our waters and seas.”
Staffan Widstrand
The adverse impression of obstacles
Synthetic obstacles resembling dams are thought-about one of many primary threats to aquatic and riparian biodiversity on a world scale. They considerably degrade river ecosystems by inflicting habitat loss and fragmentation, altering the distribution of sediments and vitamins, and concentrating pollution.
The out of date dams on the 30-kilometre River Stångån are a legacy of historic hydropower initiatives, with Sportsfiskarna buying an previous energy plant with a view to take away the dam at Ovansjö. A collection of dams had blocked the pure stream of water on the website for round 500 years – the dam that has simply been eliminated was constructed within the Thirties and renovated within the Seventies. The well being of the bigger River Ljungan, which the Stångån flows into, can be negatively impacted by hydropower infrastructure.
The Ovansjö dam, which was constructed of concrete and soil, was eliminated between June and October with the assistance of a giant excavator. Boulders and stones on the website had been then used to reconstruct a pure course for the river.
Rapid impression
Restoration efforts on the Stångån have already begun to have a useful impression, with juvenile salmon noticed within the river upstream of the lowermost dam that was eliminated. These fish have swum upstream from the River Ljungan.
“Dams on the Stångån have stopped all fish species from migrating for a whole lot of years,” says Joel Norlin. “Crucial goal species of our dam elimination work is the ocean trout, however river lampreys, eels, and salmon may also profit. Along with fish, the restoration of the river may have a constructive impression on a variety of different wildlife, resembling white-throated dippers, otters, and freshwater pearl mussels.”
Per-Erik Ström/SVT
The larger image
Rivers ship a variety of important advantages to individuals and nature. With local weather change bringing new challenges, we urgently want a new relationship with water – accepting it into our landscapes once more, and rewilding it the place we are able to. This implies giving rivers the house and freedom to handle themselves, with dynamic, pure processes such because the free stream of water and flooding returning them to well being.
At the moment, the European dam elimination motion is creating quickly, with a outstanding 487 obstacles eliminated throughout 15 European international locations in 2023. Rewilding Europe has been a part of the European motion for free-flowing rivers for a few years, as a founding accomplice of Dam Removing Europe. Riverine obstacles have lately been eliminated by our panorama groups on the Giovenco River within the Central Apennines in Italy, and within the catchment of the Vindel River, in Swedish Lapland. Additional dam removals are within the pipeline throughout our landscapes.
Rewilding Sweden
A pioneering grant
Rewilding Europe Capital gives business loans, complemented by enterprise improvement recommendation, to firms situated in and round Rewilding Europe’s portfolio of rewilding landscapes, in addition to different compelling European rewilding enterprise initiatives. The aim is to amplify rewilding impression, assist the event of nature-based economies, and innovate new methods of doing new enterprise which can be good for nature and good for individuals too.
The mortgage to Sportsfiskarna represents the primary time Rewilding Europe Capital has financially supported a dam elimination initiative. The purpose was to pilot a revolving fund for dam elimination, the place a mortgage is supplied to bridge a finance hole, and is then repaid when the dam is eliminated and the work accomplished. Sportsfiskarna will repay the mortgage based mostly on compensation supplied by Sweden’s Hydroelectric Environmental Fund.
“Eradicating dams is without doubt one of the quickest and most cost-effective methods of restoring rivers to well being, and I used to be very glad that Rewilding Europe Capital was in a position to assist Sportsfiskarna,” says Rewilding Europe’s Conservation Finance Professional, Daniel Veríssimo. “Loans on pleasant phrases are an effective way of scaling up dam elimination on a revolving foundation, and I’d love to listen to from different potential dam elimination initiatives that want finance upfront to bridge a funding hole.”
“We loved nice collaboration with the Rewilding Europe Capital staff and acquired invaluable help,” says Joel Norlin. “The mortgage was an effective way for us to cut back the monetary danger of the initiative.”
Sportsfiskarna additionally acquired a non-repayable grant from Rewilding Europe’s European Wildlife Comeback Fund to launch Atlantic sturgeon within the Göta River earlier this 12 months.
Jon A. Juarez / Rewilding Europe
Companion with us
If you’re a European entrepreneur or organisation with a need to boost wild nature, Rewilding Europe Capital could possibly assist you realise your ambition. For extra data, please contact Daniel Veríssimo.
