What is your motivation for doing research related to free-flowing rivers?
My interest for water started from the ocean and gradually moved to freshwater. Human pressure on rivers drastically increased during the past decades becoming the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. My goal is to be part of the change in the future towards a protection of these vital and gorgeous environments.
Why should we defend these wild rivers?
We are all ultimately connected to rivers. They are the veins of our planet providing us with a continuous clean water supply, flood protection, recreation and spiritual values. Rivers support the entire web of life and that includes us! Only a very small fraction of European rivers are still free flowing and they are threatened by the hydropower “development”. Once we realise what rivers do for us I am sure we will start to respect and give back to the rivers the freedom that deserve!