European Green Belt.

http://www.europeangreenbelt.org/

The Green Belt Initiative

The European Green Belt inititative has the vision to create the backbone of an ecological network that runs from the Barents to the Black sea, spanning some of the most important habitats for biodiversity and almost all distinct biogeographical regions in Europe.

By following a course that was in large sections part of the former east-western border - one of the most divisive barriers in history - it symbolizes the global effort for joint, cross border activities in nature conservation and sustainable development. Moreover, the initiative shall serve to better harmonise human activities with the natural environment, and to increase opportunities for the socio-economic development of local communities.

A Green Belt network of protected areas will contribute to the conservation of biodiversity – first of all by harmonizing management methods on both sides of the border. The Green Belt connects National Parks, Nature Parks, Biosphere Reserves and transboundary protected areas as well as non-protected areas along or across borders and it supports regional development initiatives based on nature conservation.

The Green Belt is an initiative that is tailored to fit the current political situation and the development taking place now, focussing on some of Europes most impressive and fragile landscapes. The European Green Belt has the chance to take one of the world‘s leading symbols of human division and transform it into a model of future nature conservation in Europe.