European Green Belt

The iron curtain once divided Europe into East and West.
Now Europe's largest nature conservation initiative stretches here.
© Gunther Willinger

From Iron Curtain to lifeline

The European Green Belt extends over 12,500 kilometres providing a corridor of habitats with exceptional biodiversity. The Green Belt runs along the line of the former Iron Curtain, from the far north of Europe to the Black Sea and the Adriatic in the south. Now, what was once a fascinating idea involving the transformation of the former death strip into a “European Green Belt”, has become a reality in many sections. For people, the Iron Curtain was an insurmountable barrier. Nature, on the other hand, benefited from the fact that the border strip was largely spared from intensive use by humans. The European Green Belt is a succession of ancient forests and bogs, species-rich cultural landscapes as well as wild mountains and river valleys, the like of which can be found virtually nowhere else in Europe. For many endangered animal and plant species such as bears and Balkan lynx, the European Green Belt offers valuable habitats. The initiative is also an important peace project, with people from once hostile countries now working closely together.

We're connecting nature and people at the European Green Belt

By clicking on the preview image, a video from an external source is integrated. This will transfer your IP address to the external server. Further details can be found in our privacy policy.

Diversity in harmony

Map of the European Green Belt
© European Green Belt Initiative/Coordination Group

The European Green Belt extends across 24 European countries, with numerous stakeholders working to protect this network of biotopes. It is currently divided into four sections:

  • Fennoscandian Green Belt (the northern part comprising Norway, Finland and Russia)
  • Baltic Green Belt (the area along the Baltic coast)
  • Central European Green Belt (from the Baltic coast to the Drava)
     
  • Balkan Green Belt (from the Drava to the Aegean and the Black Sea)

EuroNatur is regional coordinator for the southernmost section.

What we are doing for the European Green Belt

  • Preparing and developing transboundary protected areas: The European Green Belt offers the opportunity for nature conservation to extend beyond the borders of once hostile countries. In border regions that have long been inaccessible, we are connecting unique natural treasures across borders and are contributing to the development of large-scale protected areas which meet internationally recognised standards. An example of this is the Sharr National Park in the tri-border area which comprises North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo.
     
  • Joining forces and taking responsibility: EuroNatur is regional coordinator for the southernmost section of the European Green Belt. We are thus able to contribute to the initiative with our expertise on nature conservation in the Balkans. At pan-European level, we co-chair the European Green Belt Association (EGBA) with BUND (Friends of the Earth Germany). In this context, we are working to find new ways of bringing together the increasing number of stakeholders along the European Green Belt in a way which transcends borders. We are also ensuring that the initiative is adequately funded in the long term.
     
  • Strengthening local nature conservation: We want to achieve the acceptance and support of the people along the Green Belt. This is the only way our nature conservation projects can achieve lasting success. Together with partners and local people, we are developing strategies for the sustainable development of each respective region.

Protecting the European Green Belt means investing in a future worth living.

[Translate to Englisch:] Gabriel Schwaderer, Executive Director of EuroNatur and Chairman of the EGBA

Join in and help us!

Join the many people getting actively involved to protect Europe’s natural treasures along the Green Belt. We are grateful for any donation or active contribution you can make! In doing so, you are supporting an independent and networked civil society in Europe, which is campaigning vigorously to protect the European Green Belt. Please help us any way you can! 

Promoting ecotourism, planting trees, bringing people together: there are many different aspects to protecting the European Green Belt

Learn more about our projects at the European Green Belt

Discover more

European Green Belt - the Website of the Initiative

discover more

How you can help

Donation

Future needs nature. EuroNatur cares for it. Please help anyway you can. With your donation you will make an effective contribution to protect the European Green Belt.

Sustaining membership

EuroNatur focuses on long-term nature conservation projects instead of quick fixes. With your regular donations, you give us the planning security we need.

News

Urgent Call for Action to Protect Romania's Forests and Natura 2000 Sites

A recent report by EuroNatur and Agent Green provides new evidence on logging in Romania's protected areas. Nature conservation organisations call for…

Airport construction threatens Albanian bird paradise

++ Construction work for airport in Narta Lagoon continues unabated despite significant protests ++ Resting area is internationally important for…

Disappointing results of last trilogue on Renewable Energy Directive

++ Woody biomass and hydropower can continue to count towards renewable energy targets ++ No will for sustainable climate policy in the EU in sight ++

Major success: River Vjosa becomes National Park

++ Today the Vjosa River in Albania has been proclaimed Europe’s first Wild River National Park ++ EuroNatur, Riverwatch and many other partners have…

More Ski Resorts Planned Around Syvdovets

In 2016, the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration announced its plans to build a ski resort of the same name in the Svydovets mountain…

Lead ammunition finally banned from wetlands

Good news for Europe's waterbirds: the use of lead shot ammunition in wetland hunting has finally been banned. The law came into force on 15 February…

Don’t be afraid of the wolf

For the first time in more than 100 years, the presence of a female wolf has been verified in the Black Forest. Since two male wolves already live in…

Flamingos or planes: Protests against Airport in Albania

++ World Wetlands Day focuses attention on global destruction of rivers, lakes, marshes and coasts ++ Major demonstration in Albania against…

Schwaderer in German President Steinmeier's delegation

Great honour for Gabriel Schwaderer: EuroNatur Executive Director took part in Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's state visit to Albania and…

Vjosa Wild River National Park: Feasibility Study is a major milestone

The Vjosa River in Albania, one of the last wild rivers of Europe, is one major step closer to protection today as the team of Albanian and…

Legal action against the Vlora Airport in Albania

New developments on the planned airport construction in the Narta lagoon: The lawsuit filed by our partners against the project was ruled as…

Dismal prospects for Svydovets

A gargantuan ski resort is looming in the Svydovets mountains of Ukraine. The environmental movement Free Svydovets has filed a lawsuit against these…

Review of the Year 2022

War in Ukraine and the energy crisis, bird flu and a fish die-off, plus the continuing Coronavirus pandemic and its consequences: 2022 was a…

Spotlight on nature’s diversity

++ Start of EuroNatur photography competition 2023 ++ Anniversary for the “European Treasures of Nature”++

Further opposition to Albanian airport construction

European governments request that the Albanian government suspend the construction of the airport in the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area. The main…