European Rivers Network Homepage

The main goal of European Rivers Network (ERN)

ERN seeks to promote the sustainable wise management of living rivers in opposition to the exploitation, pollution and degradation that has occurred in the past.

The aim of ERN, is to link groups, organisations and persons working for the protection of rivers and to improve communication between them. (environment, culture, education and human rights).

ERN, is a non profit NGO and was founded 1994 by
Roberto A. Epple as a project of S.O.S. Loire Vivante - ERN France in technical cooperation with IRN (International Rivers Network) and other partners.

Running projects and campaigns :

• Running RIVERNET (the Web Portal for living rivers).
RIVERNET offers multilingual information concerning rivers and their watersheds,
(over 1400 visitors every day in 2005)

• Developing RiverMaps & a GIS
and webbased RiverInfo System a GIS for European rivers, their watersheds, including basic data and relevant organisations working in that watershed.

• Publishing the e-mail based RiverNews (former RiverFax).
This delivers important multilingual information about current events related to rivers of Europe and the world. ERN supports other thematical and river basin focused e-mail work groups (listservs).

• Initiator and Coordinator of the BIG JUMP 2005-2015 (the International River Swimming Day)
“Big Jump” aims at reconciliating people with their rivers and to gain people's support to the big European restoration effort for rivers and wetlands suchas the huge Water Framework Directive of the European Community. Over 250 000 peoples, along 31 rivers basins in 22 countries participated in 2005 !

• Partner in AQUANET EUROPE FOUNDATION
Five non-profit organizations in Europe, based in Spain (Fundacion Nueva Cultura del Agua), Belgium ( RIOU ), The Netherlands (Stichting Reinwater), France (European Rivers Network - ERN) and Italy (Gruppo 183 - Onlus), and dealing with issues related to the sustainable development of water resources have united to form a new organization.The aim of the organization is the sustainable management of waters and the related ecosystems in the European Union.
The organization realises its aim by:
a) organisation and co-ordination of national and international activities;
b) monitoring and promotion of the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive and related EU provisions;
c) exchange of knowledge and experience on best practices;
d) stimulation of relevant educational, scientific and publicity activities at both national and international level;
e) raising of public awareness. The organization acts in co-operation with public or private bodies concerned for the protection and management of water, both at national and international level.
Its activities cover the whole of the European Union as well as the areas of the world concerned by the European Union's policies.

• Partner in the RhineNet Project (EU InterReg 3b Project)
Developing participative management for the Rhine.
Objectives :
" The identification and development of lasting practices in water management, which have as a goal the enforcement and development of the Rhine habitat towards a good ecological quality while considering citizen interests
" The mitigation of user conflicts"
" The promotion of international cooperation between citizens, institutions, authorities and municipalities and the dissemination of know how

• „Rivers of pictures and flows of words" a educational project for yung people. It promotes since 1996 through the arts watershed awareness. (multidisciplinary approach) .

• More

- ERN is organising „Youth Riverbasin Parliaments“ in European river basins.

- Co-ordination of the international Dam Decommissioning Campaign in Europe (so far three dams decommissioned in France).
- Clearinghouse for the european campaign against Spains National Hydrological Plan in cooperation with the spanish NGOs.
- Support for world wide campaigns against destructive water development projects.
(We apply the WCD Recommondation to evaluat projects)
- Consulting and Participation in the „Lebendige Elbe” (Living Elbe) campaign (a DUH and G+J project) with the main goal to link the more than 400 organisations and to establish a Network of UNESCO Worldheritage and UNESCO MaB Site along the Elbe river.
- Co-ordination of the „Loire Vivante” (Living Loire) campaign in cooperation with SOS Loire Vivante (France).
-Co-ordination of the European „Save the Salmon Campaign.” The European Rivers Network is a European in-formation and collaboration network of organisa-tions and individuals working in the field of river protection.

Contacts :

Main and Westeuropean Office:
ERN- SOS Loire Vivante, 8 rue Crozatier,
43000 Le Puy, Southern France
Phone +33 471 02 08 14 Fax +33 471 02 60 99
infos at ern.org www.ern.org

Contact Offices in :
Lyon (France), Dresden (Germany), Prag (Czech Rep.), Nisni Novgorod (Russia),
planned: Istanbul (Turkey)

Staff:

to contact us : infos at ern.org :

General Coordination
Roberto A. Epple Le Puy / France and Geneva / Switzerland

Central- , Eastern Europe and Eurasia - Coordinator :
Alfred Olfert, Dresden / Germany

Coordinator for Spain and Portugal:
Catalunya : Valéry Valette
Spain and Portugal : vacancy

Coordinator for South- West- and North Europe
Roberto A. Epple, Le Puy / France and Geneva / Switzerland

Program Coordination

Guillaume Cortot, Le Puy / Montpellier (France), Head Conservation projects

Christophe Douget, Nantes ( France), Estuarys

Office Manager Le Puy
Cecile Simonet, Le Puy / France

Educational programs:
Cécile Simonet, Le Puy / France
Mathilde Beguier, Tours / France

International actions :
Claire Dutrillaux Le Puy / France
Ute Ruf / Strasbourg region / France and Germany

Animation
Mathilde Beguier, Tours / France

GIS Coordination / Cartographie
Bernd Paulowitz, Paris / France (ext.)
Ute Ruf / Strasbourg region / France and Germany

Information and InterNet Coordination, Translations :
coordinator: vacancy
Team : a network of volonteers

Logistic Bonnefont (Info Center Haute Vallée Loire)
Alain Besson, Le Puy / Bonnefont , France
Jean Paul Chabanon, Le Puy / France

Secretary :
Christele Tran Le Puy / France

plus many volunteers !