The Raundalselva River is a prime example of what the Free Rivers Fund was founded for: a hydropower project is proposed on arguably one of the most stunning rivers in Norway. Some locals decide to defend their river – with not much more than dedication, some ideas of what could be done and a little…
For 2025 we’ve received 350+ applications, thereof more than 100 fitting our funding criteria. This year’s selection process was wild – but we have chosen 12 amazing projects & determined activists working hard to fight for their rivers. It shows once again a remarkable need for this kind of funding – and it motivates us…
This year we’ve received 38 qualified applications from 23 countries on 5 continents. Reading about all these planned hydropower projects is devastating – but reading through the applications about amazing projects, determinded activists and the hard work some people put into the fight for their rivers makes everything a lot better! It shows once again…
We are happy to announce the 2023 Free Rivers Fund Grantees: 13 projects from 13 different countries and 5 continents – all fighting to protect rivers! We gave 13 grants this year, twice as many as in 2022 and by far the most we have ever given in one year. The quality and quantity of…
We are happy to announce the 2022 Free Rivers Fund Grantees! We had more than 30 applications this year from all over the world – it is so exciting for us to read through these and to get to know all of these projects and activists fighting for their rivers. We are happy to be…
On Sunday, 10th October, following the OETZ TROPHY extreme kayak championships, the Free Rivers Fund will be hosting the Rivers Day at the Ötztaler Ache. We would like to use the opportunity with so many kayakers and whitewater enthusiasts from all over the world flocking to our homerun to get as many people as possible interested…
We proudly present – the Free Rivers Fund Grantees 2021! With another record number of applications it gets harder and harder to chose every year. We will continue to work on obtaining more funds to be able to give out as many grants as possible! For 2021 we have chosen six grantees in total, thereof three…
The application period for Free Rivers Fund grants for 2021 starts now. Almost all of the 2020 grants were given out towards the selected projects by now and we will give you some updates and stories about the 2020 projects in the upcoming weeks – where the money went and how the projects are doing…
Originally the Free Rivers Fund was an idea of the grassroots activists and masterminds behind the Balkan River Defence from the Balkans, Save our Rivers from the UK and WET – Wildwasser Erhalten Tirol (Protect Tyrol’s Whitewater). At the moment WET in Tyrol is fighting hard to protect their home river, the Ötztaler Ache. WET…