News

The final BESTbelt Pan-European Conference is a key opportunity to strengthen the BESTbelt and European Green Belt communities, to connect, to share learning and to jointly develop opportunities for scaling up or follow-up initiatives.

In January 2026, the Board of the European Green Belt Association established a European Green Belt Scientific Committee. The Committee will safeguard research integrity, support networking and joint research across the European Green Belt, and provide independent scientific advice for initiatives along Europe's longest green network.

Through nature-based forest restoration in Bukovikj in North Macedonia, the Macedonian Ecological Society is strengthening a vital ecological corridor for the endangered Balkan lynx.

Members of the European Green Belt Association, the European Hiking Federation and the European Mountaineering Association have met for a productive 2-day meeting in Austria to finalise a project concept for implementing a future European Green Belt Hiking Trail.

A new project on cross-border management of protected areas will be implemented in two transboundary pilot regions: Jablanica-Shebenik (North Macedonia and Albania) and Prokletije-Albanian Alps (Albania and Montenegro). The project will help to build capacities in the participating countries in setting up monitoring schemes that are fit for Natura 2000.

The European Green Belt welcomed a new model municipality in January 2026! For the first time, the award goes to two municipalities at once for their outstanding transboundary commitment.

How do projects organised within the European Green Belt initiative contribute to fostering unlikely relationships across borders and divisions? In what ways can ecological activities support peace?

The BESTbelt project brought together nature lovers from Bohemia and Bavaria on a joint journey to the source of the Kouba River. They explored the nature and history of the Všeruby Pass and the magical Tanaberk. Borders connect us!

Several BESTbelt projects have recently been closed, producing a wide range of results that benefit the European Green Belt and the regions involved in the projects.

In an award ceremony watched by millions, the “Golden Hen” was presented to BUND (Friends of the Earth Germany) for its longstanding engagement in preserving the Green Belt in Germany.