The Balkan region is famous for its outstanding natural beauty and diversity, featuring coastal Mediterranean plains and alpine meadows, estuaries and deltas, rigid karst formations and open plains, vast lakes and many of the last wild rivers of Europe with a very high number of rare and endemic species. In particular the pristine river systems and natural lakes are rich in endemic fish and mollusc species. Therefore they have been identified by WWF as one of the key places (Global 200 ecoregions) for biodiversity conservation globally. This extraordinary biodiversity is massive capital the region´s future can build on. Wise and forward looking planning is needed to ensure that economic development goes hand in hand with maintaining this natural treasure…/…