Dear friend of river nature!

Many wild rivers of Greece, among the last unspoiled, biodiversity rich and most beautiful landscapes of Europe. They are now threatened by a series of small hydroelectric power stations. 250 building permits have already been allowed by November 2006, and 150 more applications are on their way. Some of the best nature and unique rivers are about to become construction sites, among them nearly all of Greece΄s paddelable whitewater.

10 % of the 400 endangered river sections are classic paddling grounds or get used by trekkers and canyonists a lot. Concerned are also national or local foot paths between cultural and natural monuments, like ancient arched stone bridges, geological and archaeological rarities, waterfalls and wonderful steep canyons. They will loose all their charm and appeal through these projects.

Canoeing, fishing, river trekking and canyoning are sports rather new to the Greek society, but those, who had the opportunity to discover these incredible beautiful places, will fight for their survival. You too can help by sending a petition to the Greek Government, demanding that no hydroelectric stations should be allowed, at the following 40 rivers. These rivers, on the other hand, should be officially protected as national reserves or parks. Your petition will be passed on to the Greek Government authorities. Visit the 40 rivers photo gallery.

Petition

Honourable members of the Greek Government. Minister of Environment and Public Works. Minister of Development, Minister of Tourism, Prime Minister!

I politely ask you to support our interest in maintaining some of the most important free flowing rivers of Greece intact, wild and undisturbed from developments, especially from hydroelectric projects. 

The following 40 rivers (or river sections) are the best of Greece, concerning their scenery, wilderness, water quality, fish, whitewater and recreational value. By all means avoid the mini power stations on these rivers: 

1. Erymanthos, from Tripotama to Chora
2. Selinountas* (or Selinus), from Makelarias Monastery to the weir below Melisia – Agios Ioannis bridge
3. Lousios*, from Dimitsana to Alfios confluence
4. Alfios, from Lousios confluence to Matesi
5. Neda, from ancient Figalia to Agios Panteleimonas Kalitsainas
6. Upper Evinos, from Artotina bridge to Agios Dimitrios reservoir and Lower Evinos, from Poros bridge to Chani Bania
7. Fidakia, from Kalithea - Lambiri bridge to Evinos confluence
8. Mornos, from Stromi to Mornos reservoir
9. Krikellopotamos, from Krikelo - Domnista bridge to Karpenisiotis confluence
10. Karpenissiotis, from Gavros to Krikelopotamos confluence
11. Trikeriotis, from Krikelopotamos – Karpenisiotis confluence to Kremasta reservoir
12. Agrafiotis, from Trovato to Varvariada
13. Tavropos, from Plastira reservoir to Kremasta reservoir
14. Aspros, from Karoplesi bridge to Tavropos confluence
15. Kamnetikos, from Neraidochori to Acheloos confluence
16. Aspropotamos* (or Lakmos or Upper Acheloos), from Chaliki to Mesochora
17. Kallaritikos, from Kallarites to Arachthos confluence
18. Arachthos, from Driskos to Pournari reservoir
19. Acherontas* (or Acheron), from Serziana bridge to Glyki
20. Mourgani, from Koniskos – Foteino bridge to Agia Triada bridge
21. Pinios, (Vernezi or Rodia gorge) from Rodia to Parapotamos
22. Perivoliotiko (or Aspropotamos Grevenon), from Ag.Nikolaos to Meleapotamos confluence
23. Meleapotamos (or South-western Venetikos), from Krania to Venetikos confluence
24. Venetikos, from from Ziakas bridge to Aliakmonas confluence
25. Lower Aliakmonas, from Venetikos confluence to Feli and from Paliouria to Agios Ilarionas (future reservoir)
26. Upper Aliakmonas from Pefkos (18km above Nestorio) to 2 km after Nestorio
27. Kerasovitikos from Agia Paraskevi to Sarandaporos confluence
28. Sarandaporos, from the bridge between Pefkos and Pefkofito to the Langada bridge
29. Vikos and Voidomatis* from Kipoi to Klidonia
30. Skamneliotiko and Vikakis (or Vikoskito), 7 km above Skamneli to Kipi
31. Distratiotis (or Koukoumaneris), from Distrato to Aoos confluence
32. Aoos* and Arcoudorema of Aoos* (official national reserve)
33. Gormos of Kalamas, from Paleopirgos to Oreocastro
34. Kalamas (or Thiamis) from Mazaraki to Lithino and from Gribovo to Avaritsa
35. Angitis, from Simboli to Stathmos Angistis
36. Diavolo Rema of Nestos, from Thermia to Nestos reservoir
37. Arkoudorema of Nestos, from Dipotama to Nestos resrvoir
38. Nestos, from Stavroupoli to Toxotes
39. Kompsatos*, from Talis bridge to the Roman bridge near Iasmos 
40. Inachos, from Perivoli to the weir of Agios Sostis

* official national reserve or nominated protected area (Natura 2000)

This last, Inachos, is one sad example of how much a beautiful river and outstanding whitewater can suffer from a water diversion and power station, which were built 2 years ago without proper environmental design. What a blessing, if the Inachos was to be restored completely to its former natural habitat!

Please do not turn Greek nature's best rivers into construction sites. Protect them instead, by turning them into National Parks.

Here is an extract from the EU Water Frame Directive: "Water is not some usual trade ware, but an inherited item worth of being valued, protected, defended and cared for respectively"

Please use your power, to protect those 40 river sections. Keep them alive and unmolested so that people may eternally enjoy their wild beauty. Let us Greek be a paragon and model for Europe in that regard. It is about environs. We are counting on you!

With friendly greetings,