he Oetztal Alps, with their numerous glaciers, rich biodiversity, unspoiled alpine meadows, and powerful rivers, hold the last water reserves of the Eastern Alps. This stunning area is under threat from the enormous Kaunertal hydropower of ecologically critical moorland; the digging of four tunnels totaling 47 km in length that will spread the project's impact across four river valleys; the ecological destruction of over four km of the river Inn due to hydropeaking (rapid and destructive changes in water flow and temperature); the impacting of 20 separate alpine communities. To negatively impact the water supply of an entire river system at a time when climate change is already threatening the continuity of supply and to rely so heavily on hydropower when the glaciers and snowfields that feed the plants are rapidly shrinking is madness. The environmental, recreational, and economic value of the Oetztal Alps and its remaining intact river sections are far too valuable to be sguandered on such a project. Save Our Rivers and WET Tirol have joined forces with 30 other environmental organizations in supporting WWF's Kaunertal declaration calling for: The immediate stop of the Kaunertal power plant expansion project and the comprehensive protection of the last ecologically intact Alpine rivers; the preservation of Alpine natural landscapes such as the Platzertal; an energy transition that is compatible with nature, and the rapid elimination of the burdens caused by existing hydropower plants on river ecosystems. To join them and to object to this project, sign the petition -
