Greenbelts: Local Solutions for Global Challenges Global Greenbelts Conference, Toronto, Canada March 22nd-24th, 2011

The German and European Green Belt – separate. Nature unites. Dr. Liana Geidezis Project manager BUND-Project Office Green Belt, The GreenExperience Belt in Green Europe Belt The Green Belt Initiative

„Green Infrastructure“: preserving biodiversity and ecosystem functions in Europe

 New policy framework: not only halt the loss of biodiversity but reverse it and restore ecosystems by reconnecting them

 Green Belt contributes to European programmes, e.g. EU Habitats Directive (Natura 2000 network), Bern Convention (Emerald Network), Pan-European Ecological Network (PEEN)

 European Green Belt: * Common natural heritage * Treasure chest of diversity * Backbone of an European ecological network * Living of European history Vision of the European Green Belt

“Creating the backbone of an ecological network running from the Barents to the that is a global symbol for transboundary cooperation in nature conservation and sustainable development”

Stara Planina Bulgarian-Serbian area

Inner-German Green Belt 1393 km – longest habitat connecting system in Germany

Green Belt Germany Historical background: The divided Europe Historical background: Inner-German borderline

Former border line between the two German states East Road for military vehicles

West Zone for tracking down traces

Ditch as barrier

Mine field “No man’s land“: Area from the metal fence to the border line Metal fence 9th December 1989 Meeting of 400 conservationists from East and – 1. Resolution for the Green Belt

13th December 2009 “20 Years Green Belt” Jubilee event in Hof, , Germany Information and Public Relation Anniversary “20 years Green Belt” Press trip 27.04.-30.04.2009 Information and Public Relation Public Relations Habitat network - the Green Belt Germany

Length: 1393 km Area: 177 km², including directly bordering nature conservation areas: 2.232 km² Financial Supporter 109 different habitat types were mapped 49 % endangered habitat types (Red Data Book) 150 new nature reserves including or bordering the Green Belt 28 % of the area of Green Belt is protected as nature reserves 38 % is under the protection of the EU Habitats and Birds Directive 85 % of the Green Belt mostly intact Green Belt is the only existing national habitat connecting system in Germany!

Obstacles andGefährdung Threats Gefährdung

The Green Belt Germany is endangered by

 Agriculture

1949 ha

 Road building 294 ha

 Industrial Parks

120 ha

Grünes Band bei Gerthausen (Grabfeld) Foto: Klaus Leidorf A71 (Schweinfurt-Erfurt) Obstacles and Threats: Small structured private and public property

25-30% private property ! Green Belt Germany – BUND Activities & Projects Seven BUND-Pilot Regions Green Belt Germany – BUND Activities & Projects Management Measures for Nature Protection

 e.g. Wetland restoration  e.g. Species conservation

Black Stork Crane (Grus grus)‏ Photo: Damschen (Ciconia nigra)‏

Photo: Dieter Leupold Green Belt Germany – BUND Activities & Projects: Green Share CertificatesGrüne /Band “Shareholder - Anteilschein Meetings”

Here you could see your name. ExperienceExperience Green Green Belt Belt

The Green Belt as a chance for sensitive tourism and sustainable development . . .

Supported by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) with funds of the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) Success for the Green Belt Germany

 National Nature Heritage

 Lighthouse-project of the German strategy for the preservation of biological diversity

 In the new German Federal Act for the Preservation of Nature as a part of the national habitat connecting system

 50 % of the German Green Belt dedicated to nature conservation

 Large-scale nature conservation projects along the Green Belt funded by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation / German Federal Ministry for Environment Future Challenges

Germany`s only nationwide habitat network needs a permanent and efficient form of protection:

“National Natural Monument”

German Federal Nature Conservation Law 2009, § 24 (4): “… out of cultural-historical reasons” Vision – A Green Belt in Europe

2003 2002

2004 European Green Belt Initiative 12.500 Kilometers, 23 Countries

Patronage

Fennoscandian Green Belt

Central European Green Belt

Balkan Green Belt Fennoscandian Green Belt

Border between and FennoscandianGreen Belt Central Green Europe Belt ExamplesFinland for- Russia Projects and Activities Fennoscandian Green Belt Baltic Green Belt

INTERREG IV B-Project “baltic green belt” 22 partners (13 partners and 9 associated partners) from Germany, , Russia, , , and Sweden (Coalition Clean Baltic) Lead partner: University Kiel January 2009 – January 2012

www.balticgreenbelt.net Central European Green Belt Interreg IIIB-Project Green Belt April 2006 - May 2008

„Green Belt – protection and valorisation of the longest habitat system in Europe”

Eight participating countries: Germany, , , , ,

Non-EU Countries and

Lead-Partner: Association for Rural Development in Weimarische Strasse 29b 99099 Erfurt, Germany

CADSES-region: Central European, Adriatic, www.greenbelteurope.eu Danubian, South-Eastern European Space Balkan Green Belt European Green Belt

> Protection of wilder- ness (forests) > Protection of water bodies > Protection of cultural landscapes > Protection of endangered species Biogeographical regions

12.500 km 23 States

Large variety of European landscapes and landscape forms 1 a/b Øvre- Pasvik (NOR) / Zapovednik Pasvik National parks (RUS) 1 (Zapovedniks in Russia) 2 Urho-Kekkonen (FIN) 2 along the Green Belt 3 Riisitunturi (FIN) 3 4 4 a/b Oulanka (FIN) / Paanajärvi (RUS) 5 Europe 6 5 Kalewala (RUS) 7 8 6 Hiidenportti (FIN) 9 7 Koli (FIN) 8 Patvinsuo (FIN) 10 9 Petkeljärvi (FIN) 11 10 Valkmusa (FIN) 12 14 13 11 Laheema (EST) 12 Matsalu (EST) 17 16 15 13 Kemeri (LV) 18 14 Slitere (LV) 19 15a/b Kuřių Nerija (LV) / Kurschkaja Kossa (RUS) 16 Slowinski (PL) 17 Jasmund (D) 20 21 18 Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft (D) 22 19 (D) 20a/b Šumava (CZ) / Bayerischer Wald (D) 23 25 24 21a/b Thayatal (A) / Podyjí (CZ) 22a/b Neusiedler See (A) / Fertő Hanság (H) 26 27 23 Triglav (SLO) 24 Donau-Drau (H) 28 29 25 Golubac (SRB) 26 Skutari (MNE) 27 Mavrovo (MK) 28 Shebenik-Jablanica (AL) 29 a/b/c/d Galicia (MZ) / Prespa (AL) / Pelister (MZ) Graphics: BUND Project Office Green Belt / Prespa (GR) European Green Belt Mapping Project

„Search Corridor“: 25 km buffer on either side of the former „Iron Curtain“ in central and south Europe and of 50 km in northern Europe.

4 types of European Green Belt areas:

Core areas

Satellites of core areas

Cluster of stepping stones Financial Supporter

Linear corridors European Green Belt Opportunities

• Promoting the development of a Pan- European ecological network

• Connecting system through many natural areas (concerning climate change)

• Implementation of common European nature conservation efforts

• Overcoming of the historical separation of Europe

• Protection of the Green Belt as a living historical monument

• Enhancing sustainable regional development in the border regions European Green Belt Future Challenges

 More transboundary projects and activities; providing financial resources from national governments and .  Win-win-cooperations: combining nature conservation, nature- tourism and sustainable regional development.  Implementation of Green Belt ecological criteria (connectivity, range, etc.) in infrastructure planning (roads, settlements etc.), agricultural use; strengthening of sustainable land use in the Green Belt regions.  Filling the gaps: designation of cross-border protected areas, strengthening protection status of existing areas, improvement of transboundary management.  Restoring and preserving functional ecosystem services (refuges, corridors, diversity) all along the Green Belt Europe. Memorial landscape UNESCO World Heritage

Proposal for the European Green Belt: Nomination as UNESCO Natural and Cultural Heritage Resolution at the 3rd Pan European Conference, Linz, Austria, October 2009 Resolution at the 30th National Conference for Nature Conservation, Stralsund, Germany, 1 Oct 2010: … „development of a specific funding scheme by the EU Commission“

… „EU and the German Federal Government shall evaluate and support the application of the European Green Belt as a UNESCO Natural and Cultural Heritage“ Contact and more information…

BUND – Project Office Green Belt Hessestrasse 4, 90443 Nuremberg, Germany, Tel. ++49-(0)911-575294-0; Fax: ++49-(0)911-575294-20 [email protected] www.greenbeltgermany.info www.experiencegreenbelt.de www.greenbelteurope.eu www.europeangreenbelt.org