The GRÜNE LIGA Berlin e.V., together with a tip: tap, will present their activities in the context of the newly founded and cross-association Wassernetz Berlin at the Ökomarkt on Kollwitzplatz on 9 March 2023 (12-17 h). Here in the catchment area of the Stadtspree, we would also like to get into conversation with people interested in water bodies on the question of what can be done for water retention and rain infiltration in the neighbourhood.

The pilot project Wassernetz Berlin, financed by the LOTTO Foundation Berlin, was launched in Berlin on 20 January 2023. The aim of the project is, among other things, to present and support measures for the protection and ecological upgrading of watercourses and lakes in Berlin and to implement them on 19 watercourses themselves in order to preserve and restore the natural biodiversity of our watercourses, also in order to realise the goal of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) of achieving a "good ecological status of all watercourses in Europe".

To raise awareness and provide the general public with understanding tools, we and other partners in the Water Network organise dialogue events on this topic.
Discover more about the Water Network here: www.wassernetz-berlin.de

The new Nature Restoration Law proposed by the European Commission in June 2022, aimed at restoring ecosystems for people, climate and planet, will be put to a vote in the ENVI Committee in May 2023. In June 2023, the European Parliament will hold its plenary vote (mid-June).

In this context, the GRÜNE LIGA supports EEB's #RestoreNature campaign, which is pushing for the adoption of an ambitious law.

This law is fundamental to establish a governance framework in order to restore ecosystems that are particularly at risk, in order to increase climate change adaptation, ensure food security and the well-being of humankind and all forms of life on our planet. 

Member States will have to develop National Restoration Plans, including both area-based restoration targets and indicator-based restoration targets. This should allow for the establishment of an integrated approach to restoration on the European level.

 (The Havel River in Germany)

The main overarching objectives are the following:

• at least 20% of land- and sea-areas' restoration targets by 2030
• by 2050: having measures in place for ALL ecosystems in need of restoration

Between 18 and 20 January 2023, the annual meeting of the Living Lakes Network Germany and the Lakes Conference took place in Berlin, which had not been held for several years due to the pandemic.

The Living Rivers Foundation, Global Nature Fund (GNF), the GRÜNE LIGA and Living Lakes Germany were pleased to be able to bring together over 120 participants over three days.

Open letter: Counting on new hydropower to accelerate Renewable Energy deployment in Europe is irresponsible. 

The EEB (European Environmental Bureau), Bird Life International, the EEA (the European Anglers Alliance), Wetlands International and WWF have published an open letter, this Monday 6 February 2023, asking for more regulations of hydropower development. The open letter is signed by more than 100 NGOs across Europe.

Among others, we ask for:

• At least retain the new article 29b on sustainability criteria for hydropower proposed by the European Parliament (RED III), as it recognises that hydropower has direct impacts on freshwater ecosystems which must be mitigated. 
• Ask Member States to exclude new hydropower plants from go-to areas (RED IV), as the Council’s general approach from 21 December on REPowerEU, which only gives Member States the option to exclude new hydropower plants from go-to areas, does not go far enough. 

Discover the entire open letter of the European NGOs here (in English): Open letter: Counting on new hydropower to accelerate Renewable Energy deployment in Europe is irresponsible. 

In 2023, a river film festival is to take place on the Main for the very first time. And not just in one city, but in several cinemas along the course of the river from its source to its mouth. In this way, it will become clear that the Main River connects people over 500 km and is our common responsibility.

The 1st Main FlussFilmFest will be organised in March 2023 by Flussparadies Franken e.V. and Netzwerk Main in cooperation with the Living Rivers Foundation and other partners. It is sponsored by the Bavarian State Ministry of Finance and Home Affairs. The opening will take place on 14 March, the International Day of Action against Dams and for Rivers, Water and Life (World Dam Day) in Bayreuth. The final event will be a matinee in Frankfurt am Main on 26 March. An international selection of environmental and outdoor short films will be shown.

The trailer of the Main Flussfilmfest 2023 is available here: www.living-rivers.eu/en/events-1/1st-main-riverfilmfest

The events will take place on:

• Tuesday, 14 March at franz & gloria– Bayreuth
• Wednesday, 15 March at Neuen Filmbühne– Lichtenfels
• Friday, 17 March at Odeon/Lichtspiel– Bamberg
• Friday, 17 March at Roxy– Kitzingen
• Saturday, 18 March at Central im Bürgerbräu– Würzburg
• Saturday, 18 March at Film-Photo-Ton Museum Huttenschloss - Gemünden a.Main
• Sunday, 19 March at Capitol Kino– Zeil a. Main
• Sunday, 19 March at KuK – Kino & Kneipe– Schweinfurt
• Sunday, 19 March at Burg-Lichtspiele - Karlstadt
• Monday, 20 March at Capitol Kino– Zeil a. Main
• Thursday, 23 March at Movie im Luitpoldhaus– Marktheidenfeld
• Thursday, 23 March at Filmklubb– Offenbach
• Thursday, 23 March at Schloß-Theater - Miltenberg
• Saturday, 25 March at Casino Filmtheater– Aschaffenburg
• Sunday, 26 March at Harmonie– Frankfurt a. Main 

Let's celebrate free rivers, clean water and freshwater life! More about the programmes and venues coming soon on : https://www.riverfilmfest.eu and www.mainflussfilmfest.de
and: https://www.facebook.com/Maininitiative/
and: https://www.instagram.com/netzwerk.main/?hl=de>