Baltic

Baltic Green Belt – The Coastal Belt

Kap Arkona at the Island of Rügen (Germany) © Joerg Schmiedel

The Baltic Green Belt stretches along the Baltic Sea coastline. Diverse marine underwater habitats and a richly variegated coastline with large dune fields, long beaches, impressive cliffs and secluded lagoons are unique for this part of the European Green Belt.

Extensive military areas served as reserves for millions of migrating birds and many marine animals such as grey and ringed seals. Since the early 1990s, however, the coastline has experienced heavy pressure for development and exploitation. Safeguarding the valuable natural and historical assets of this attractive and heavily sought-after landscape poses a major challenge for the Green Belt.