Lively final BESTbelt conference 2026 in Italy!

About 120 people from 25 countries and 80 organisations met in Gorizia, at the Italian-Slovenian Green Belt, to take stock on the four and a half years of the BESTbelt project, which brought "more power to the European Green Belt". Many of the 49 small scale projects were present at the conference to present achieved results.

 

The final BESTbelt conference was held in the beautiful cross-border city of Gorizia. During the two-and-a-half-day conference, participants enjoyed a varied programme, which included insights into selected BESTbelt projects and a poster rally through most of the 49 small-scale projects. Other topics covered included cooperation with local communities and the road to achieving UNESCO World Heritage status.

On a full-day field trip, 'BESTbelt on the Road', participants explored two BESTbelt projects in Slovenia and Italy and learnt how former Cold War infrastructure is being repurposed and restored for nature, and how medium-voltage power lines can threaten birds such as the Eurasian Eagle Owl. A part of the participants also visited the European Green Belt model municipality of Stregna and learned first hand about their engagement for the European Green Belt.

Above all, the conference offered people from across the European Green Belt a platform to reconnect, exchange ideas and refresh joint project plans. It was a pivotal event for the European Green Belt community, providing an opportunity to reaffirm their shared vision of protecting the European Green Belt.

 

For more information on the 2026 BESTbelt Conference, click here. 

For questions, please reach out to jessica.bitsch@euronatur.org