04 August 2022
Water resources in Kosovo have an uneven geographical distribution from one region to another. Although Kosovo is considered to have limited water resources, the existing resources, including rivers, have been exploited and polluted beyond their natural limits and permitted standards.
The environmental state of rivers has deteriorated as a result of the physical degradation of riverbeds, the discharge of urban and industrial wastewater, erosion, and uncontrolled land use along their riverbeds. The physical degradation of river surfaces is a consequence of the over-exploitation of sand and gravel by legal and illegal operators, as well as exceeding the capacity of their natural flow.
The report, “Impact of Sand and Gravel Exploiters on the Environmental State of Rivers,” has as its main objective the assessment of the environmental state of rivers affected by sand and gravel exploitation, the identification of degraded areas, the measures undertaken by institutions in accordance with legal requirements, regulations, administrative instructions and other environmental standards, as well as their effects on improving the environmental state.
This assessment also aims to identify the negative impacts and effects on the flora, fauna and landscape of river ecosystems affected by the extraction of inert materials, identify damage and other environmental impacts, and inform institutions and the general public about the current state of the rivers.
Based on its main findings, the assessment report, “Impact of Sand and Gravel Exploiters on the Environmental State of Rivers,” has also established a list of measures and actions that should be implemented against those responsible for degradation, in order to stop further degradation and improve the environmental conditions of rivers.
For more details, see the report, “Impact of Sand and Gravel Exploiters on the Environmental State of Rivers.”