Annual Report 2018 EuroNatur Foundation

Selected EuroNatur projects in 2018
European Green Belt Initiative: Many actors – one vision
Geographical location in Europe
Ecosystem network with an extraordinarily high level of
biodiversity, forming a 12,500 km long corridor along the
route of the former Iron Curtain (Map p. 5). The European
Green Belt connects eight biogeographical regions and
24 nations.
Situation
The establishment in 2014 of the European Green Belt
Association e.V. (EGBA) was an important milestone in the
advancement of the European Green Belt Initiative.
Governmental and non-governmental European Green Belt
stakeholders work together in the EGBA, which is chaired
by EuroNatur. Conservation activities carried out by the
numerous actors involved are coordinated by four regional
coordinators. EuroNatur is the regional coordinator for the
Balkan Green Belt, the European Green Belt’s southernmost
section.
Objectives
Our common aim is to structurally advance and bring substantive
progress to the European Green Belt Initiative, to
gain backing and support in society at large and in the political
sphere for the Green Belt as a pan-European habitat
network, and to highlight the initiative’s contribution to
achieving important international conservation objectives.
Moreover, we hope to establish the Green Belt as a model for
the further development of Green Infrastructure in Europe
and thus as a positive example of maintaining the natural
resource base on which life is built. Transboundary conservation
projects generate exemplary cooperative partnerships.
Selected activities in 2018
In October 2018, at the 10th Pan-European Green Belt Conference,
more than 100 actors came together from 20 countries
along the European Green Belt. They drew up joint
demands to be put to governments and parliaments regarding
the protection and future development of the Green
Belt, and they agreed the next activities to be undertaken.
Based on comprehensive analyses – primarily of the various
habitat types and existing protected areas – a spatial
delimitation of the Green Belt was developed and officially
adopted by the EGBA.
Once again, the European Green Belt Days were held with a
view to strengthening awareness, encouragement and support
for the European Green Belt. Together with local partners,
EuroNatur organized several highly visible activities
along the Balkan Green Belt, including the summiting of the
mountain at the trijunction of Montenegro, Albania and
Kosovo. More than 50 people from five countries thus highlighted
the transboundary conservation efforts in the Balkans.
Selected achievements in 2018
The delimitation of areas considered to be part of the
European Green Belt provides a valuable basis for arguments
to support their protection in discussions with decision-makers.
For example, it has for the first time made
possible analyses of the significance of the Green Belt for
the European Green Infrastructure.
The “European Green Belt Days” have become well established
and now significantly contribute to the European
Green Belt Initiative’s visibility.
Outlook
We endeavour to further boost the European Green Belt
Initiative’s significance at the EU level and, in particular,
to more intensively promote the initiative vis-à-vis the EU
Commission as a model for Green Infrastructure in Europe.
The European Green Belt Days will again be held in 2019
with a view to raising the initiative’s profile.
Partners: BUND, IUCN and all
stakeholders at the European Green Belt
Funding: BfN with funds provided by BMUB,
DBU, EuroNatur’s donors
7 Annual Report 2018
European Green Belt