Over the next four years, the European Commission will fund a new pilot project at the European Green Belt (EGB). 400.000 Euros will be made available in the first call for specific projects along the EGB from Finland to Albania and Bulgaria.
An Example for projects: Growing local fruit and nut trees on degraded land improves biodiversity, protects the soil from erosion and secures an additional income for the local people.
© Sandra Wigger
The project „BEST Belt“ is implemented with fundings from the European Union.
It is the specific objective of this pilot project to support local initiatives and unlock the potential in the fields of biodiversity conservation, restoration and the sustainable use of ecosystem services. For this, the project supports initiatives that preserve the biological diversity along the former Iron Curtain, and implement promising approaches for a sustainable regional development. Organisations are encouraged to submit applications for smaller nature conservation projects of up € 40,000 in funding. In addition to the financial support, organisations receive training and counselling on how to effectively implement the planned measures.
The official contractual partner of this project is EuroNatur. The nature conservation foundation chairs the “European Green Belt Association” (EGBA) and holds responsibility for this project. Furthermore, EuroNatur is the regional coordinator of the section Balkan Green Belt. The first call for funding specific projects along the European Green Belt is planned for the end of February 2022. To stay informed, please subscribe to the EGBA-Newsletter.