The Route of the Green Belt

The Green Belt spans 23 countries, running for ca. 8500km from the northern tip of Europe crossing Central Europe along the borders of Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary and continuing to the Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea and Adriatic Sea along the borders of Albania, FYR Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro and Turkey.

The course of the Green Belt is a legacy of history. For centuries this line was the realm for some of Europes most devastating human conflicts, and for decades it was a symbol for political and ideological division between the powers of Europe. Most of the areas along the Green Belt for a long time constituted a forbidden zone where no activity was allowed. The „Iron Curtain“ was one of the most divisive barriers in Europe. The only positive outcome of this strongly protected borderline is that some of the most important remaining habitats for biodiversity of almost all distinct biogeographical regions in Europe have been preserved.

The route of the Green Belt unveils most impressive and sensitive landscapes and it displays the typical natural flora and fauna of the regions along its course. Passing many different districts and countries, the Green Belt appears in various aspects, given to the great diversity of political, biological and socio-economic conditions in the respective countries. A shared vision for the conservation of biodiversity and the promotion of sustainable regional development remains as the conjoining link.