European Green Belt

The European Green Belt is an initiative driven by the IUCN (World Conservation Union). It is the aim of the initiative to create the backbone of an ecological network that runs from the Barents to the Black Sea, spanning some of the most important habitats for biodiversity and almost all distinct biogeographical regions in Europe. It connects National Parks, Nature Parks, Biosphere Reserves and transboundary protected areas as well as non-protected areas along or across borders and it supports regional development initiatives based on nature conservation. The initiatives objectives range from the local to the global level.

The route

The route of the Green Belt is divided into three regional sections:

* Fennoscandia and the Baltic
*Central Europe
*South Eastern Europe

By following a course that was in large sections part of the former east-western border, it symbolizes the global effort for joint, cross border activities in nature conservation and sustainable development. Moreover, the initiative shall serve to better harmonise human activities with the natural environment, and to increase opportunities for the socio-economic development of local communities.

The initiative

The implementation of the Green Belt initiative was launched in September 2004 in the Fertö-Hanság National Park in Hungary. This national park is situated in the border area to Austria where it not only forms a transboundary protected area widely known for its vast reed beds and numerous waterbirds, it also represents the cultural and historical dimensions of the initiative – as this was the area, where the Iron Curtain was first opened in 1989. In 2004, experts and national representatives from the countries along the Green Belt met to identify the steps required to make the Green Belt a success. The main outcome of this meeting was the Programme of Work, which was then discussed and supplemented by the stakeholders and partners of the Green Belt.

Organisational structure

Each section has a regional coordinator. The initiative itself is overseen by the IUCN Green Belt coordinator. The secretariat for the European Green Belt is hosted by the IUCN Regional Office for Europe in Brussels. In the countries adjoining the Green Belt, national representatives, authorised by their respective state agency responsible for nature conservation and regional development, serve as National Focal Points. By this structure, the initiative gives consideration to the fact that the Green Belt means different things to the different stakeholders along the line.

Members

The Green Belt is a multi-stakeholder initiative, working with many governmental and non-governmental organisations. Members are national and international NGOs, state agencies for nature conservation and regional development, protected areas' management authorities and the regional coordinators and national focal points – representing IUCN members.

External links

* [http://www.europeangreenbelt.org/ European Green Belt]
* [http://www.nhpfund.org/nominations/fennoscandia.html Green Belt of Fennoscandia] at [http://www.nhpfund.org/ Natural Heritage Protection Fund]
* [http://www.iucn.org/ The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Website]
* [http://www.greenbelteurope.eu/ Central European Green Belt]