News

The Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) funds 20 pilot actions for the creation of joint cross-border plans for crisis management and spatial planning. Public entities and cross-border structures can apply until 30 November 2024 to receive funds to make their territories more resilient.

Two years after the last BESTbelt Conference in Montenegro, the European Green Belt community met again during this year's BESTbelt Pan-European Conference 2024 in Latvia. More than 80 participants from over 60 different organisations from nearly all countries along the European Green Belt attended the conference from 14. - 18. October to discuss, learn from each other and strengthen or initiate collaboration.

The European Green Belt Days, celebrated annually from 18-24 September, highlight the region’s commitment to peace, nature conservation, and transboundary cooperation. Stretching 12,000 km across Europe, the European Green Belt Initiative unites diverse cultures and landscapes, fostering environmental awareness and collaboration.

A special European Green Belt border marker was inaugurated in Austria on 10 August 2024 by the Austrian League for Nature Conservation and the municipalities of Ferlach and Tržič on the traditional EU Kirchtag at the Alter Loibl Pass.

The largest restoration project to date in the UNESCO Five-country Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube meanders along the European Green Belt and involves 17 institutions and organizations in 5 countries, including public administrations for nature conservation, water, forest and regional management, as well as universities and NGOs.

The Austrian League for Nature Conservation (Naturschutzbund Österreich) is once again organising European Green Belt Camps this summer to protect and restore the European Green Belt in Austria.

The BESTbelt and Balkan Green Belt community strengthened connections and exchanged about projects along the European Green Belt during this year's Balkan Regional Conference in Haskovo in May 2024.

An important step for the protection of the Dinaric-Pindos brown bear population:

Despite complex political relationships, the Tripoint brown bear (TBB) - project and its partners established a transboundary protection network over the past two years.

Increasing wildfires in Europe also affect the European Green Belt. A recent study developed by a research team from Wageningen University & Research University investigates the presence of fire in rewilding and eco-restoration areas and the awareness of local people in such areas. The research team will use the results to investigate whether such areas can be classified as fire resilient landscapes.

Are you planning to celebrate this year’s European Green Belt Days? Then get ready to apply for funding to realise your European Green Belt Day!