136 Presentations and information

Liana GEIDEZIS Melanie KREUTZ

The Green Belt crosses forests like beech Experience the Green Belt groves rich in numerous orchid species, near to inland surface waters, wet meado- Nature conservation and eco-touri- ws, a variety of grasslands and fallow lands, as so forming a coloured mosaic of various sm along the former habitats. Almost half of the ecological net- work consists of endangered habitat types Iron Curtain according to Red List . The Gre- en Belt Germany is the origin of the fanta- stic vision for the Green Belt Europe, run- ning along the entire former ‘Iron Curtain’. From the Barents Sea to the Black Sea runs a strip of habitats about 12,500 kilometres 1 The ‘death zone’ long and passing through 23 countries. turned to a treasure longest ecological network in Germany, A living monument to European history extending 1,393 kilometres. By decree, it and an outstanding nature heritage! chest of diversity became a part of the national natural he- ritage in the coalition agreement of 2005 The BUND (Friends of the Earth Ger- The former inner-German border had a and as lighthouse project for the conserva- many) began the Green Belt Germany massive impact; it divided families and tion of biological diversity in the National initiative in 1989. Expanding from this friends, towns, villages and landscapes. But Strategy of 2008, the high status priority initiative, many people are engaged in within this inhuman border area with its of the Green Belt for nature conservation cross-border efforts since 2003 to preser- metal fences, mines and guard towers, a in Germany has now been confirmed. It ve the Green Belt Europe on a permanent unique nature developed over the decades. connects valuable areas, passing 17 distinct basis (www.europeangreenbelt.org, www. The ‘death zone’ for people turned into a physiographical regions with more than greenbelteurope.eu). lifeline for nature. The Green Belt is the 600 endangered species (Figure 1). 2 Set off on the trail – Experiencing nature, culture and history

The Green Belt has much to offer – na- ture, culture and history are all interlin- ked in a unique manner. Allowing this experience to be available, while still protecting the valuable nature within its boundaries at the same time, is the aim of the ambitious testing and de- velopment (T+D) project ‘Experience Green Belt’. It is initiated and funded by the German Federal Agency for Na- ture Conservation (BfN). The central aim is conservation and development as an ecological network, which is of nati- Figure 1: The Green Belt Germany (Thuringia/Hessen) in the valley of the river Werra. The onal importance. The touristic valorisa- Green Belt is often the last remaining habitat structure in agriculturally intensively used areas tion increases the acceptance among the (photo: Klaus Leidorf). local population and tourists as well as

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among politicians referring to the Gre- en Belt initiative. The project will be implemented until the end of 2010. In three model regions (Figure 2) along the Green Belt Germany, touristic packages are being developed that combine nature conservation with sustainable tourism, bringing history back to life, enabling people to experience nature and lea- ding them to special cultural delights. The BUND-Project Office Green Belt has taken over the scientific attendance process, which aims at co-ordinating the activities among the three German mo- del regions and the transfer of methods, experiences and results to other regions along the European Green Belt.

3 Model regions

3.1 Border experiences in the quadripoint country Figure 2: The three model regions of the T+D-project ‘Experience the Green Belt’ along the Green Belt Germany (source: BUND-Project Office Green Belt). The model region of Elbe-Altmark- Wendland in the quadripoint country City of Salzwedel, visitors can have a on measures in the project ‘Experien- (Federal states of Mecklenburg We- unique natural experience: the Salzwe- ce Green Belt’ are aimed at restoring stern-Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony del city forest is one of the largest bog- typical dry grasslands, inland dunes Anhalt and ) stretches alder forests in Germany, and home to and heaths, for example by removing from the floodplain of the river Elbe to many rare species. One section of this pine growth. the historic landscapes of Wendland and primeval forest has been opened up via Altmark. The visitor is invited to expe- a raised wooden path. The Green Belt Visitors can find special features of rience the Green Belt as a ‘blue mira- is characterised by quite a few different nature, culture and history at ‘border cle’: The former border river, the Elbe, habitats to the north of lake Arendsee: experience points’ which are signposted dominates the landscape (Figure 3). The heathland, dry grassland, as well as open along the Green Belt. They point out White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) lives here inland dunes. This is the habitat of the relics of the former border, such as wat- in large numbers, and rare species, such thermophilic insect species such as the chtowers or razed villages (‘abandoned as the White-tailed Eagle ( villages’). Visitors can experience the di- Haliaeetus al‑ Blue-winged Grasshopper (Oedipoda bicilla), Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) and versity of the region on a cycle round caerulescens) or the European Nightjar European Otter (Lutra lutra) inhabit trip along the 190 kilometres long ‘four (Caprimulgus europaeus). the river banks, wet meadows and the countries border cycle path’. On guided remains of the floodplain forests. Even tours, guests and local people are invi- in winter, the floodplain is full of life: The renaturation of the Kusebruchswie- ted to acquire ‘border experiences in the Cranes (Grus grus), northern geese and sen (meadows) to the north of Salzwe- quadripoint country’. Whether the fo- swans are guests and can be observed del is an important measure within the cus is based upon bird migration or the close up in their winter habitats. Visitors project. New areas of shallow water and history of the region, there are always can find out more about the history of wet grasslands are being created on pre- qualified guides to accompany visitors the river landscape by visiting the castle viously drained lands. An observation on the trails in the Green Belt. In order at Lenzen. This over 1000-year old ca- station was set up so that amphibians, to attract the interest of younger gene- stle structure is today open to guests as water birds and other species can be vi- rations, project weeks aimed specifically a modern conference and visitor centre. ewed without any disturbance in their at schoolchildren are offered, supported Right in front of the historic Hanseatic new habitat. Other nature conservati- by artists, on the subject of ‘borders’.

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sites, a competition is being held in whi- ch works of art are being created, which broach the issue of the Green Belt and at the same time Inner-German Border history.

The Green Belt is the major element of the so called border path (Figure 4). Always sticking close to the former border, to a large extent on secluded border paths or on what used to be the ‘border patrol path’, it runs for more than 100 kilometres, from the for- mer Rhoden border tower to the north, across the , to the border mu- Figure 3: To paddle on the river Elbe, the former border river is one of the attractions of the seum Tettenborn to the south. Here it model region of ‘Elbe-Altmark-Wendland’ (photo: Stefan Reinsch). connects historical and cultural features of the Central German Uplands with habitats deserving of protection, the 3.2 On Harz border paths ated in the shadow of the ‘Brocken’. A nature experience route for hikers and care and preservation of such habitats through nature and leisure cyclists winds its way between in a number of areas is also a central history the former border rivers, the Ilse and the component of the project ‘Experience Oker, along with a 70 kilometre long Green Belt’. The low mountain range of Harz is cycle path through the flat to slightly located centrally within Germany. The undulating terrain of the Harz foothills. In the middle of the National Park in highest mountain within the area, the The Green Belt can be experienced here the Altenau district of Torfhaus over ‘Brocken’ is a symbol of the partition with a particular sense of intensity at 800 metres above sea level, is the new vi- and reunification of Germany. It is situ- specially marked locations, such as a sitor centre for the National Park. With ated in the middle of the national park bird observation station. But there are an exciting exhibition and atmospheric of Harz and at 1,142 m above sea level also places where the Green Belt has multimedia resources, the ‘TorfHaus’ it towers up to nearly 1,000 metres over almost entirely disappeared, due to in- communicates the core philosophy of the North German Lowlands. Often en- tensive agricultural use, especially in the the National Park, of ‘letting nature be veloped in mist, or ravaged by storms, area of the Harz foothills. In order to nature’, and informs visitors about the this location has throughout time cast draw attention to these issues at such ecology of the natural resources and also a spell on people and has found its way into German literature, for example in Goethe’s ‘Faust’ or Heine’s ‘Harzreise’. The unusual climatic conditions of the ‘Brocken’ result in its unique flora and fauna. Lying directly on the former in- ner-German border and used by the So- viet Union as a watching post, it was inaccessible to ‘normal citizens’ from both the East and West during the era of partition, and thus became a symbol of the divided Germany. With the fall of the wall, the focus of attention again has turned to the Brocken, and it has since been visited by numerous guests. Figure 4: Hikers on the former border patrol path near Sorge in the Harz Mountains, a part A number of experience routes along of the Harz border path that runs for more than 100 kilometres along the Green Belt (photo: the Green Belt are currently being cre- Melanie Kreutz).

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about the history and development of Species inventories of particularly sen- interest are also on the schedule, such the Green Belt in the National Park sitive creatures such as the Black Stork as the Inner-Germany Border Museum region. (Ciconia nigra), as well as species that in Mödlareuth, a little village which was can be easily observed in the Green Belt also divided by a wall and named ‘Little 3.3 Green Belt – an (inter) could be used to determine prioritised Berlin’ during the Cold War. areas for nature conservation, and to active experience select appropriate areas of interest for Visitors can hike or cycle along fifteen tourism. The surveys also formed the well sign-posted tour routes. Four of The third model region is situated in starting point for determining areas these circular hiking paths are set up the south of Germany within the Na- for nature conservation measures in as exciting ‘audio routes’. Using either ture Parks of the Thuringian Forest, the Green Belt. By means of landscape Thuringian Slate Mountains/Obere Sa- management, this unique network of a mobile phone or MP3 player, hikers ale and the Franconian Forest. In this habitats, with its numerous endangered can access moving documents of con- densely-wooded region, agricultural animal and plant species will be protec- temporary witnesses and entertaining use is usually quite extensive due to the ted and developed. Rare mountain and notes on the diversity of nature and abundance of unspoilt natural settings. wet meadows will be preserved and also on other tourist attractions. Some This is why the Green Belt is threatened restored through mowing or grazing. of the interviews with witnesses have only in a few areas by the high intensi- Spruce woods running along streams been made by schoolchildren from the fication of grassland use. However the will be transformed into close-to natu- region. On their walks, guests can be emergence of birch trees and spruces are re alder-ash copse margins. It is planned provided with nature and landscape gu- now driving out valuable open landsca- to retain dwarf-shrub heaths through ides, specially certified for this purpose pe habitats such as mountain and wet energy wood management. This should and who have been given special courses meadows as well as dwarf-shrub heaths, result in a mosaic of young or scrubby on the subject of the Green Belt. Infor- in which for example, the Wood Lark heathland areas and pioneer forests. mation points are available at a number (Lullula arborea) inhabit. This also hea- of places in the region giving guests di- vily restricts the way in which the Green International work camps for young rect access to further information on the Belt is perceived. One main purpose of people are organised, to enable younger Green Belt. the project is to guarantee the sustained generations to actively experience the protection and development of the Gre- Green Belt. Apart from outdoor work, For more Information about ‘Experien- en Belt and an improvement in how it is such as mowing meadows or removing ce the Green Belt’ please contact: experienced, through the close co-ope- wood from heathland areas, contempo- BUND (Friends of the Earth) Project ration of organisations concerned with rary witnesses tell young people about Office Green Belt. nature conservation and with partners their border experiences back then (Fi- E-mail: [email protected] from tourism. gure 5). Visits to places of historical Internet: www.experiencegreenbelt.de

Dr. Liana Geidezis, Biologist, Project Ma- nager BUND-Project Office Green Belt, Friends of the Earth (FoE) Germany, Nuremberg, Germany E-mail: [email protected]

Melanie Kreutz, Landscape planner, Project Assistance BUND-Project Office Green Belt, Friends Figure 5: Young people can experience the nature of the Green Belt and the history of the of the Earth (FoE) Germany, Nuremberg, Iron Curtain within a Youth Work Camp. One part of these camps is also outdoor work, to Germany nurse these valuable habitats within the Green Belt (photo: Wiebke Preußer). E-mail: [email protected]

Urbani izziv/Urban Challenge, volume 20, no. 2, 2009