Big win for the Raundalselva (Norway)

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 help of the Free Rivers Fund. And they succeed. Read more about what was planned on the Raundalselva, how the locals managed to save their river – and why, sadly, Norway’s rivers are in more danger than ever before.

Back in 2023 we received a grant application from a small team of activists in Voss (Norway) who were setting out to defend their river: the Raundalselva – a spectacular river and one of the few virtually unaltered rivers in Western Norway. The water is so clean you can drink straight from it. The river flows freely through the valley of Raundalen – with only a few farms scattered throughout the valley, the majority of Raundalen is untouched nature and forest. The area has rich bird life, large areas of wild forest, is home to arctic foxes and wild reindeer, and the river has thriving fish populations. It is a place rich in biodiversity and home to many red listed species. On top of that, the Raundalselva is world-famous among kayakers and popular with tourists, who come to experience one of the last areas of untouched wilderness in Europe.

But of course, where there is a river, there are hydropower developers wanting to dam it – the earliest proposals for hydropower development on the Raundalselva date back to the 1960’s. People have defended this river time and time again and through huge conservation effort, the Raundalselva received permanent protection in 1986 as part of the so-called Varneplan: a national protection plan for a select number of Norwegian rivers for their importance for natural diversity, cultural heritage and outdoor life. But still – the hydropower proposals have been simmering ever since – in recent years often coupled with the argument of flood prevention. The town of Voss is nestled on a fjord and in the estuary of the Raundalselva River. After large floods hit the town in 2022, coupled with the recent energy crisis, the hydropower proposals were suddenly back on the table – disguised as a flood prevention scheme: the river was to be redirected underground in huge tunnels, diverted through the mountains directly into the Fjord. A multi-million Dollar undertaking, conveniently paid for by the hydropower plant included in the project. And all that to protect only a few houses built too close to the shore – and with no regards to any alternative flood prevention solutions.

The developers had made their plans without a handful of determined locals – who managed to defend the Raundalselva once again. As an FRF Grantee in 2023, ’24 & ’25 they did community work, gathered information, involved scientists, communicated their findings, informed their community, organised presentations & panel discussions, involved politicians, organised outdoor ecology education events and overall promoted the value of a free flowing Raundalselva. Apart from financial support the Free Rivers Fund was also able to facilitate a partnership between them and our Partner Palm Equipment that made an awesome film about the Raundalselva possible. In 2025 the municipal council of Voss decided on a flood prevention scheme in the Voss watershed without flood tunnels and hydropower development.

The Raundalselva case is a prime example of what the Free Rivers Fund was founded for: to give uncomplicated financial support to grassroots activists. Because we believe that local activists know best what needs to be done and how to approach the problem, as they are aware of the politics, history, culture of their river and their home. We also have experienced that locals fight the hardest for their home rivers, and distributing funds to them can have the greatest impact. If your river is threatened and you need support defending it, you can apply for a grant until January 10th 2026. If you want to help us to support more projects like the Raundalselva, please consider donating to the Free Rivers Fund!

Sadly, these very good news come with a very bitter aftertaste: In a historic and deeply concerning move, Norway’s Parliament decided to revoke environmental protections from approx. 390 rivers, paving the way for future hydropower development in rivers formerly protected by the Varneplan – including the Raundalselva. These rivers, which have been safeguarded for the last fifty years, are some of the last truly wild, free-flowing waterways in Europe. Now, they are vulnerable to exploitation. This decision was fast-tracked with minimal public consultation, no environmental impact assessments and no serious debate about its long-term consequences. The decision has been described as a “historic attack on Norwegian nature”, environmental campaigners fear it will lead to an endless stream of new battles over hydropower developments. It definitely is a huge step back in the decades long struggle for river conservation in Norway, especially taking into account the country is more than over-saturated with hydropower already. We will keep an eye on Norway and we have already received 2026 Grant Applications from Norway – we love to see the resistance is forming!