European Green Belt Initiative

Our vision: The European Green Belt, our shared natural heritage along the line of the former Iron Curtain is to be conserved and restored, to function as an ecological network connecting high-value natural and cultural landscapes whilst respecting the economic, social and cultural needs of local communities.

An extraordinary ecological network and living memorial landscape has developed along the former Iron Curtain, which divided the European continent into East and West for nearly 40 years. Along 24 countries and more than 12,500 kilometres – from the Barents Sea at the Russian-Norwegian border, along the Baltic Coast, through Central Europe and the Balkans to the Black and the Adriatic Sea – the border zone granted nature a pause and has created a zone of life. As the European Green Belt snakes from north to south it passes through a huge variety of European landscapes. Today, the European Green Belt forms the backbone of a Pan-European ecological network and provides a significant contribution to European "Green Infrastructure".

The European Green Belt Initiative aims to harmonise human activities with the natural environment and to increase opportunities for the socio-economic development of local communities.

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The European Green Belt Initiative

Borders separate. Nature unites!

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New documentary on the European Green Belt

Watch the documentary series by filmmaker Alice Whitehouse

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Learn more about the implementation of European Green Belt Youth Camps and its opportunities

In early 2024 two complementary trainings are offered by BESTbelt

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Stregna awarded as Model Municipality of the European Green Belt

European Green Belt Association honours the commitment of the mountainous village of Stregna in Italy for the European Green Belt

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