Neretva Science Week 2022 – shedding light on the biodiversity of the upper Neretva River valley, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Many rivers in the Balkans are at risk due to numerous planned hydropower plants. The Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign and the Scientists for Balkan Rivers network are important initiatives trying to promote the protection of the region’s intact rivers. In summer 2022, a Science Week was organised in the upper Neretva River valley. From 26.6. to 5.7.2022, a diverse team of in total nearly 60 scientists and students from seven countries were involved in fieldwork on about a dozen common field sites distributed along the upper Neretva River. The 13 contributions published in this special issue draw an impressive picture of high biodiversity in this understudied area. Altogether, more than 1000 species of animals and plants were documented, numerous of them protected, underscoring the extremely high conservation value of the various ecosystems in the upper Neretva river valley.