Why countries are tearing down hundreds of dams

Key Points:

• In 2025, a record 603 dams and barriers were removed across 21 European countries, reconnecting over 3,740 kilometers of rivers and advancing the EU’s goal to restore 25,000 kilometers of free-flowing rivers by 2030.
• River fragmentation from an estimated 1.2 million barriers has severely impacted freshwater biodiversity, with over 42% of Europe’s freshwater fish species threatened; dam removals help restore ecosystems, improve fish migration, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from reservoirs.
• The EU’s Nature Restoration Regulation, effective from 2024, mandates binding targets to restore at least 20% of EU land and sea areas by 2030, including river connectivity, marking the first time barrier removal is embedded in EU law despite some opposition from farming groups.
• Successful dam removal projects in Finland, France, England, and other countries demonstrate rapid ecological recovery, including the return of endangered salmon and restored sediment flows, though experts emphasize the need for strategic, large-scale implementation and long-term maintenance.
• While progress is growing, experts note that removing a few hundred barriers annually is insufficient given the vast number of obsolete structures; comprehensive restoration requires collaboration with local communities and sustained efforts to revive Europe’s river ecosystems.