A trip to Neusiedl Lake to strengthen transnational contacts along the European Green Belt

What happens when nature-loving people come together and spend four days in a National Park in Burgenland in Austria? We were lucky enough to create a special vibe that enriched everybody during these days!

Group picture at the Great Bustard Infocentre. © Julia Edlinger
Birding at the Darscho. © Julia Edlinger
Group photo at Lake Neusiedl. © Oliver Gebhardt

In June, Naturschutzjugend Steiermark organised a trip to Neusiedl Lake, located in Burgenland and part of the Austrian Green Belt, from 19 to 22 June. Together with people from NGOs in Serbia and Germany, we spent four days exploring the area's unique landscapes and biodiversity. Connected through same interests and personal drive the group came together immediately – which was a special feeling for everybody!

Part of our excursions were different salt lakes, the National Park itself, a visit to a bee-eater and a ground squirrel colony just to mention a few. To make the idea of the European Green Belt initiative and its history more visible we visited an old part of the former border fence in Hungary. In the evenings we had presentations and discussions about different topics related to the European Green Belt.

During and after the program points there was always a big interest to learn and exchange information from each other. As everybody of the group is part of a nature-related NGO it was very interesting to see point of views from the different countries. Everybody really was enriched by it and although the time was short friendships and plans for further projects together were already made.

We are very happy and proud to make this exchange within our BESTbelt project “Youth Experience European Green Belt in Austria” possible and look forward to see everybody of this amazing and motivated group again!

 

The project "Youth Experience European Green Belt in Austria” is implemented by the Landesgruppe Steiermark of the Austrian Naturschutzjugend (önj)  from November 2023 until October 2025 and is financed by the EU-funded BESTbelt project.

For more information, please contact: Julia Edlinger; julia.edlinger(at)naturschutzjugend.at ( Naturschutzjugend Steiermark)