The Border Areas

In nature, boundaries are dynamic, biodiverse and highly productive systems with numerous possibilites. In the areas along the Green Belt, forced land abandonment and restructuring of landscapes for military infrastructure interrupted the natural development of small scale industrialisation, leaving landscapes to evolve that were in no way natural. On the other hand, these strips of land are considered to be important assets of our natural heritage. It is these areas that make up some of Europe's most interesting landscapes and protected areas.

The Green Belt creates a unifying link between habitats which are otherwise fragmented in today's cultural landscape. The sections gain their special status from their interconnectedness. In most places along the Green Belt, the areas on both sides of the borders are managed differently. Harmonising management practices in border regions causes several positive side effects: in the course of creating liberal zones, the natural heritage will be recognised as an economic asset.

The degree of seclusion and the situation of the Green Belt areas developed differently in each region. The historical background plays a significant role in the way man uses the environment, the landscape and its ressources. Traditions and customs are intrinsically tied to the cultural landscape. In this respect, it is found that a common cultural background is very often the basis for a good transboundary cooperation in nature conservation.