Greenbelts: Local Solutions for Global Challenges Global Greenbelts Conference, Toronto, Canada March 22nd-24th, 2011
The German and European Green Belt – Borders separate. Nature unites. Dr. Liana Geidezis Project manager BUND-Project Office Green Belt, Germany 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 monument of European history Vision of the European Green Belt
“Creating the backbone of an ecological network running from the Barents to the Black Sea that is a global symbol for transboundary cooperation in nature conservation and sustainable development”
Stara Planina Bulgarian-Serbian border area
Inner-German Green Belt 1393 km – longest habitat connecting system in Germany
Green Belt Germany Historical background: The Iron Curtain 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 West Germany – 1. Resolution for the Green Belt
13th December 2009 “20 Years Green Belt” Jubilee event in Hof, Bavaria, 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 Finland and Russia 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, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia 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, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia
Non-EU Countries Croatia and Bulgaria
Lead-Partner: Association for Rural Development in Thuringia 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 Harz (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 European Union. 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