Perspectives for

biological & cultural

diversity along the

European Green Belt

Good examples, successful measures

& new ideas

3rd scientific & final GreenNet conference

In cooperation with:

All cover photos you will find inside of the brochure.

Perspectives for biological & cultural diversity along the European Green Belt

Good examples, successful measures & new ideas

Proceedings of the 3rd scientific & final GreenNet conference

3./4. of June 2014, Eisenach

The GreenNet project was implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE programme co-financed by the ERDF

Editors: Ilke Marschall

Matthias Gather

January 2015

The editors want to thank Jessica Machalett, Sara Erat and Anna Heil for the editorial help concerning

the contributions.

University of Applied Sciences Erfurt (Fachhochschule Erfurt)

Department of Landscape Architecture & Transport and Spatial Planning Institute

Altonaer Straße 25

99085 Erfurt, Germany

phone: +49 / 361 / 6700524

fax: +49 / 361 / 6700757

e-mail: ilke.marschall@fh-erfurt.de, matthias.gather@fh-erfurt.de

internet: www.fh-erfurt.de/lgf/la/ & www.verkehr-und-raum.de

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Content Preface ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Conference Day 1 .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Impressions of the 1st Conference Day............................................................................................................................................................... 10

Poster presentation ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13

Conference Dinner ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 14

Conference Day 2 .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 15

GreenNet Coffee .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16

Good examples of landscape action and successful measures along the European Green Belt ......................................................... 17

Good examples, different methods and new ideas of the Thuringian Nature Conservation Trust

within the management of the Green Belt Thuringian ..................................................................................................................................... 18

Assessing ecosystem services of the Natural Protected Areas: the case of the Julian Prealps park along the

European Green Belt

Documentation, information and education about the European Green Belt – an example ................................................................ 22

Belasitsa Beyond Borders – Transboundary Cooperation along the Balkan Green Belt ............................................................................ 24

Save species-rich meadows on the Green Belt of Kutschenitza by Acquisition .......................................................................................... 26

Environmental education at the German Green Belt ...................................................................................................................................... 28

Land Sharing for Food and Social Benefits ......................................................................................................................................................... 30

GreenNet Pilot area Southern Burgenland ......................................................................................................................................................... 32

Challenges in Biodiversity Conservation in Transboundary Green Belt Region of Osogovo Mountains ................................................. 34

School expedition to the Green Belt. A reminder of history and chance for the future ............................................................................ 36

Impressions - Excursion in Pilot Region “ Grabfeld” ........................................................................................................................................... 38

References ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 40

Contact persons of the 11 presented projects and initiatives ........................................................................................................................ 42

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Conference participants,

Eisenach 4th June 2014

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Preface

From 2011 to 2014 the EU-funded Central

Europe project GreenNet connected a

wonderful group of people engaged around

the European Green Belt in six European

countries. The aim of this project was to

encourage various pilot actions in the fields of

local development, nature protection and

environmental education, to exchange the

experiences of different initiatives along the

Green Belt, and thus to promote this

outstanding European ecological network.

The 3rd scientific & final GreenNet

conference in Eisenach in June 2014 gave a

forum to successful initiatives and projects

along the whole European Green Belt all over

Europe.

This brochure provides an overview on the

contents of the conference and an insight in

11 encouraging projects and initiatives. Again

we want to thank for the contribution and

engagement of all speakers of the

conference.

By the brochure we wish to contribute to

bring on the fascinating European idea as

well as to keep alive and to vitalize a living

line through Europe – connecting nature and

connecting people.

Matthias Gather, Ilke Marschall (FH Erfurt/ University of applied sciences)

These conference proceedings contain a cross

section of countries, actors and their diverse

activities for the protection and development

of the European Green Belt. While linking

Europe’s natural heritage and history as well as

contributing to the development of a civil

society crossing borders, cultures and

mentalities, the Green Belt is one of the most

fascinating initiatives in European nature

conservation.

Regarding an important aim of European

nature conservation, the implementation of

Green Infrastructure, the former European

Commissioner for Environment Janez Potočnik

stated on the occasion of 10 years of the Green

Belt Initiative in 2013: “We are saying it. You are

doing it”. Having this in mind, we would like to

thank all the engaged people on-site

implementing the great vision of this unique

ecological corridor and memorial landscape

through our continent.

Dr. Liana Geidezis, Melanie Kreutz, Daniela

Leitzbach

BUND Project Office Green Belt

Regional Coordinator Green Belt Central Europe

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Conference Day 1

Motivation

The 3rd

GreenNet conference is focussed on

successful initiatives and projects along the

European Green Belt. Despite the existing difficult

frame conditions activities and initiatives of a future

orientated sustainable development already had

been realized along the European Green Belt. Those

encouraging examples were discussed in an

international context. Furthermore the conference

presented results of the GreenNet project and gave

impulses for the further development of the

European Green Belt.

Programme

13:00 -

13:15

Welcome & Introduction by Lead Partner,

Association for Rural Development Thuringia

(ThLG), University of Applied Sciences Erfurt

13:15 -

13:40

Welcoming speech by Jürgen Gnauck,

Minister of Federal and European Affairs

and Head of the State Chancellery

13:40 -

14:00

Welcoming speech by Pia Bucella,

European Commission, Director of the

Directorate Natural Capital, DG

Environment

14:00 -

14:30

Keynote speaker:

The Green Belt as a common European

good: how to measure, increase and

manage its value

Prof. Francesco Marangon (University

Udine)

14:30 -

15:00

Coffee break

Results of the GreenNet Project:

Moderation: Prof. Dr. Matthias Gather, University of

Applied Sciences Erfurt, Transport and Spatial

Planning Institute

15:00 -

15:20

Project introduction:

structure, goals, procedure, results; Lead

Partner

15:20 -

15:50

Presentation Core Outputs:

Safeguarding strategies for the Central

European Green Belt, Lore Abart-Heriszt,

Franz Grossauer und Barbara Hofbauer-

Schmidl (BOKU Vienna)

15:50 -

16:00

Lobbying activities and success stories to

promote the Central European Green Belt,

Melanie Kreutz (BUND)

16:00 -

16:15

Presentation of the GreenNet Charta,

Lead Partner

16:15 -

17:00

Panel discussion

Moderation:

Uta Tannhäuser

Participants:

Prof. Dr. Hubert Weiger

(German Council for Sustainable

Development),

Pia Bucella (EU - KOM DG Environment),

Prof. Dr. Karl Friedrich Thöne

(Thuringian Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry,

Environment and Nature conservation),

Marie Kaerlein (Landcare Germany, DVL)

Albert Seifert (Thuringian Farmers

Assosiation)

17:00 -

17:15

Summary & Outlook on the next day,

Prof. Dr. Matthias Gather

17:15 -

17:45

Press conference

17:45 -

18:30

Poster presentation &

ZDF film presentation

Evening Event:

19:30 Conference Dinner

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Impressions of the 1st Conference Day

Jürgen Gnauck, Minister of Federal and

European Affairs and Head of

the State Chancellery

Matthias Gather,

University of Applied

Sciences Erfurt

Pia Bucella, European Commission,

Director of the Directorate Natural

Capital, DG Environment

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Lore Abart-Heriszt, Boku Vienna

Marcus Bals, Association for Rural

Development Thuringia

Prof. Francesco Marangon,

University Udine

Conference room with participants,

Steigenberger Hotel Eisenach

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Panel discussion – moderation:

Uta Tannhäuser

Melanie Kreutz,

BUND

Detlev Geissler, Association for

Rural Development Thuringia

Panel discussion - participants

13

Poster presentation

14

Conference Dinner

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Programme

Good examples of landscape action and successful measures along the

European Green Belt

Moderation: Prof. Dr. Ilke Marschall, University of Applied Sciences Erfurt,

Department of Landscape planning

9:00 - 9:10 Welcome & Introduction by Lead Partner, University of Applied

Science Erfurt

9:10 - 10:00 Key note: Marie Kaerlein, Landcare Germany

(DVL) „Cooperations for man and nature in rural areas -

(inter)national initiatives and key elements”

10:00 - 11:15 Good examples, different methods and new ideas of the

Thuringian Nature Conservation Trust within the management of

the Green Belt Thuringia Stella Schmigalle & Beate Schrader

(Thuringian Nature Conservation Foundation, DE)

Assessing ecosystem services of the Natural Protected Areas: the

case of the Julian Prealps park along the European

GreenBelt Francesca Visintin (Centre for Theoretical and Ap-

plied Ecology, IT)

Save species-rich meadows on the Green Belt of Kutschenitza

(Austria) Prof. Dr. Johannes Gepp (Austrian League for Nature

Conservation Styria, AT)

Pilot area Southern Burgenland

Dr. Klaus Michalek (Austrian League for Nature Con- servation

Burgenland, Eisenstadt, AT)

Land sharing for food and social benefits

Iztok Erjavec (Institute for Sustainable Development and Holistic

Solutions - InTeRCeR, SLO)

Discussion

11:15 – 11:45 Coffee break

11:45 – 13:00 Challenges in Biodiversity Conservation in Transboundary Green

Belt Region of Osogovo Mountains Despina Kitanova (Macedo-

nian Ecological Society, MK), Petko Tzvetkov (Bulgarian Biodiver-

sity Foundation, BG)& Wolfgang Fremuth (Frankfurt Zoological,

DE)

Belasitsa Beyond Borders – Transboundary Cooperation along the

Balkan Green Belt Vladimir Milushev (Bulgarian Biodiversity

Foundation (BBF) – Branch Belasitsa, BG) & Anne Katrin Heinrichs

(EuroNatur, DE)

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Mura Drava Danu- be & regional activities in Viroviticko Podrav- ska county as a part of Green Belt

Initiative Neven Trenc & Tatjana Arnold-Sabo (State institute for

nature protection, HR)

School expedition to the Green Belt. A re- minder of history and chance for the future Michala Kopec ková & Jan Hibler (Civic

asso- ciations Ametyst, CZ)

Environmental Education at the German Green Belt Karin Kowol

(BUND, DE)

Documentation, Information and Education about the European

Green Belt – an Example Georg Baumert (Educational Institution:

Boderland Museum Eichsfeld, DE)

Discussion

13:00 – 14:30 Lunchtime and GreenNet-Cafe (Individual Exchange)

Prospect: The future of the cooperation at the European Green Belt

Moderation: Detlev Geißler, Association for Rural Development Thuringia, lead

partner GreenNet

14:30 – 15:00 The Future of European Rural Development - the CLLD 2014 - 2020;

Stefan Kämper (dvs)

15:00 – 15:30 The future of transnational cooperation Dr. Klaus Bongartz

(Thuringian Ministry of Construction, Land Development and

Traffic)

15:30 – 16:00 Final discussion, summary & closing words Dr. Liana Geidezis

(BUND Project Office Green Belt), Detlev Geissler (ThLG), Prof. Dr.

Ilke Marschall (FHE)

Conference Day 2

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GreenNet Coffee

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Good examples of landscape action

and successful measures along

the European Green Belt

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Background information Thuringia was the first federal state in

Germany to take over responsibility for

nationally significant natural heritage sites

in the Green Belt from the German state.

The land formerly owned by the German

state – 3900 hectares of the 6400

hectares of the Green Belt in Germany –

has been transferred in October 2010 to

the Stiftung Naturschutz Thüringen

(Thuringian Nature Conservation Trust).

The Conservation Trust is in turn

committed to continuing the work

already undertaken to maintain the

Green Belt as a historical memorial and

to develop its natural potential. Together

with agricultural and forestry enterprises

and various regional partners, the Trust

ensures that this land remains accessible

and can be experienced while

simultaneously safeguarding long-term

nature conservation aims.

Stella Schmigalle &

Beate Schrader

Thuringian Nature Conservation

Trust, DE

Good examples, different methods and new ideas

of the Thuringian Nature Conservation Trust

within the management of the

Green Belt Thuringian

Currently 1810 ha of the 3900 ha property

of the trust along the Green Belt have

been secured by contractual

agreements through 130 leasings, 95 of

them are new contracts.

Actors: Cooperation with various

partners, different administration

institutions helps to pursue different

stakeholders.

Personal contact: meetings are the most

important measure to find nature

conservation friendly compromises.

Challenge: is to have the necessary time

and to use the possible talks to promote

the idea of the Green Belt, also as a

place of exchange and coming together!

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In the following 3 different strategies are presented within the

overall goal of the preservation of the Green Belt from the view of

a land owning institution.

1. Nature conservation through sustainable and extensive farming

Goal: sustainable and extensive farming through

contractual agreements

Task: adopt old contracts and find new leases

Challenges: are everywhere and are extremely

dependent on the special situation.

Example: 34 ha along the Green Belt in Ifta near Eisenach (7,6 ha

through ENL-project of the BUND) in 2012/13

Challenges which occurred:

• Dairy herd could not be used

• The supporting funding directive was in the end-phase.

• Lack of prompt grazing lead to new shoots, so that partial

mulching was required this year

• Currently Senecio jacobaea makes the shepherd insecure

• With the start of the new KULAP-directive in 2015 the

grazing will be hopefully secured

2. Permanent change of land-use and merging of trust

properties with the help of the land consolidation

In contrary to the properties in Ifta, most of the transferred

properties of the trust are highly fragmented. To implement

extensive land use projects, it is favorable and in most cases

a prerequisite, that properties are merged together to have

a continuous property.

Example: Cycling path around Wahlhausen – cooperation

leads to success

3. Voluntary assignments in landscape management

Project “Active Green Belt” (Grünes Band Aktiv),

supported by the Thuringian Funding Program ”ENL”

We offer experience of nature through landscape

management activities on the areas with special

management needs.

Suggestion of daily landscape management

assignments for companies, social institutions, schools,

communities and to the general public.

Project “Active Green Belt”

Project “Active Green Belt”

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Francesca Visintin

Centre for Theoretical and Applied

Ecology, IT

Assessing ecosystem services of the Natural

Protected Areas: the case of the

Julian Prealps park along the

European Green Belt

Background information The increasing back of public financing

leads decision-makers to cut funds for

protected areas without considering the

ensuing environmental-economic-social

impacts, and to seek information that

can be used to improve resource

allocation. Increased emphasis is partly

due to changes in society, especially the

increased demand for accountability,

transparency, and demonstrable 'value

for money'. The research investigated

what and how much value the protected

areas are able to create from the money

received from government and funding

bodies.

Actors: CETA, Autonomous Region Friuli

Venezia Giulia and some selected

protected areas: Julian Prealps Park,

Isonzo river mouth Nature reserve,

Cornino Lake Nature reserve. In the

following we want to introduce the case

study of the Julian Prealps Park.

Motivation: assess the value of protected

areas considering the ecosystem services

they provide

Goals: The increasing unavailability of

public financing leads decision-makers to

cut funds for protected areas without

considering the ensuing environmental-

economic-social impacts, and to seek

information that can be used to improve

resource allocation. Increased emphasis

is partly due to changes in society,

especially the increased demand for

accountability, transparency, and

demonstrable 'value for money'.

First successes: The cost-benefit-ratio is

1:7,2 which means that each euro spent

by the Regional Government in order to

sustain the Park produces 7,2 euro of

ecosystem services in terms of

environmental, social and economic

benefits.

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Short contribution: The model (Tab. 1) founded on the

difference between costs and benefits, both economic and

environmental, assessed the value produced or consumed by

the protected area. Environmental costs are related to:

anthropic presence, consumption of raw materials, motor and

heating fuel, electricity, water and administration expenses. In

order to transform impacts into environmental costs, the

consumption items had been converted into tCO2eq, and

considering a social cost of carbon, the monetary value had

been obtained.

Referring to environmental benefits, the following services have

been identified: climate regulation, soil formation, food

production, biological control, raw materials, waste treatment,

habitat/refugia, recreation, and cultural (Costanza et al., 1997).

By subtracting costs from benefits, both monetary and

environmental, the annual net benefit is obtained.

In the case of the Julian Prealps Nature Park the method

assessed ecosystem services for about 8,2m € and total net

benefits for about 7m €. Considering that the public founding

amounts for about 1,1m €, the ratio between ecosystem

services and public founds is about of 7,2.

Natural stock account 1 Natural flow account 2

Natural stock: Costs: Benefits:

Quantity (density) Monetary: reserve costs Monetary: reserve revenues

Quality (species) Environmental: environmental costs

Environmental: environmental benefits

- 2 Regional Parks

- 12 Regional Reserves

- 3 National Reserves

- 27 Biotopes

- 55.000 ha = 7% FVG

Tab. 1: Environmental Accounting Model for Protected Areas 1 refers to natural resources quality (species) and quantity (density) 2 assesses energy + material flows between biosphere + technosphere as

follows:

biosphere-technosphere flow assesses environmental benefits (ecosystem

services) and economic revenue derived from the profit and loss account,

technosphere-biosphere flow assesses environmental costs (environmental

impacts) and economic costs derived from the profit and loss account

Typical flora & fauna

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Georg Baumert

Educational Institution: Borderland

Museum Eichsfeld, DE

Documentation, information and

education about the European

Green Belt – an example

Background information Since 1995, the Borderland Museum

Eichsfeld on the site of the former

Duderstadt-Worbis border crossing point

has been informing visitors about the

inner-German border and the East

German dictatorship. In 1999, 9km of the

former border directly around the

museum were made a conservation

area. On the ground floor of the “Mill

Tower”, the former technical centre of

the border crossing point, the museum set

up the permanent special exhibition

“Border–Land–Nature”. This exhibition

describes the ecological effects of the

border facilities. On the “Borderland

Path” around the museum’s grounds,

visitors can get a clear idea of these

effects through specific examples in

nature. Information panels link historical,

political and ecological aspects.

In 2010 the museum redesigned its entire

exhibition. The permanent special

exhibition now became an integral

element in terms of its design.

The relations between interior and

exterior spaces and the development of

the Green Belt from 1989 to the present

day are now emphasized more strongly.

It also became clear that the new

exhibition contained no information on

the European Green Belt, although this

trans- European conservation project was

opened in 2002 on Kutschenberg hill,

close to the Borderland Museum. A new

exhibition was therefore planned.

Illustrating current projects along the belt,

it opens up a perspective into its future.

Project partners: co-founders, institutions

& individuals, like the BUND Green Belt

project office Nuremberg, the University

of Applied Sciences Erfurt, the EuroNatur

foundation, Radolfzell and Metsähallitus,

Finland supported the project with

information.

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From idea to draft: As a basis for implementing the exhibition, an

ideas competition was launched. The choice of the winning

design was based on two thoughts:

• The entire ensemble of the Borderland Museum is a

protected monument, consisting of the museum, the

education centre, the former customs building and the mill

tower. An additional building had to conform to these

conditions and fit in with the ensemble.

• The European Green Belt is a developing entity. To stay up-

to-date, an exhibition had to be adaptable, with variable

elements framed by fixed installations.

From Draft to Implementation - Exhibition: The new exhibition on

the European Green Belt has permanent, variable and multi-

functional elements. The permanent elements are texts firmly

mounted on walls or freeform elements. They form the

informational framework of the exhibition. The freeform elements

stand out from the walls to appear three-dimensional. They are

shaped like a telescope or a sheep. The text on the telescope

focuses on three key aspects of the European Green Belt:

biological diversity, regional development and cooperation. The

sheep stands for protective use along the European Green Belt.

This contributes to its preservation in various ways: valuable

habitats are conserved, and people can make a living.

Interior

Project material

A building that fits

perfectly into the

ensemble

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Anne Katrin Heinrichs &

Vladimir Milushev

EuroNatur, DE /

Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation

(BBF) – Branch Belasitsa, BG

Belasitsa Beyond Borders – Transboundary

Cooperation along the Balkan

Green Belt

Background information Belasitsa Mountain forms one of the

southernmost spots of the European

Green Belt. It is located at the Balkan

Green Belt which is extremely

heterogeneous in nature as well as in

culture - this also can be seen in Belasitsa.

The Balkan Green Belt links extremely

important wetlands such as coastal

areas, rivers, and lakes with the mountain

ranges of the Balkan Peninsula. Next to a

mosaic of pristine natural landscapes

traditionally cultivated landscapes with

pastures, hedgerows and small villages

are also a typical characteristic of the

Balkan Green Belt.

Location: Belasitsa Mountain is a

mountain range in the southern part of

the Balkan Peninsula which is shared by

three countries – Bulgaria, Greece and

FYR Macedonia. Belasitsa Mountain

stretches in the core of the Balkan Green

Belt, the southernmost strip of the Euro-

pean Green Belt. Due to the location at

the border and the political seclusion, in

most parts of Belasitsa Mountain nature

remained untrammeled.

Motivation: The multifaceted natural

history of Southeastern Europe makes the

Balkan Green Belt a hot spot of

biodiversity and endemism.

Like in Belasitsa Mountain the main

threats for the Balkan Green Belt are

major investments in grey infrastructure. In

the last ten years tourism has skyrocketed

in several areas and has been

accompanied by the arrival of investors

Goal: Yet, due to the predominantly

mountainous character of the Balkan

Green Belt it is still possible to find vast

tracts of unspoilt nature and pristine

habitats, like in Belasitsa Mountain.

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Aims and Activities at the Balkan Green Belt

Join forces beyond state and institutional borders;

Increase coverage of protected areas and protected

area effectiveness;

Unfold the potential of shared diversity in nature and

culture;

Increase awareness of the value of biodiversity amongst

local population;

Develop concepts for management and utilisation of

biodiversity jointly with local population;

Generate benefits for local population;

Borders separate – Nature unites!

What we do

Develop regional partnerships for the conservation of

Belasitsa, including exchange of know-how and

capacity building in the field of environmental education

and sustainable tourism;

Promote benefits of economic development measures

as a long term tool for nature protection;

Raise public awareness of the values of Belasitsa as a

unique nature site.

What we have achieved

Popularity for the region

Risen awareness and sensitivity of ecological values

Bring people together

Demonstrating that eco-tourism can be a profitable

business

Increased understanding and consciousness of the

Belasitsa Mountain as one common and shared region

Dalmatican Pelican Borders separate – Nature unites

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Johannes Gepp, Markus

Ehrenpaar &

Melitta Fuchs

Austrian League for Nature

Conversation Styria, AT

Save species-rich meadows on the Green Belt of

Kutschenitza by Acquisition

Background information In the Pilot Region – Styrian-Slovenian

Border Region along the Kutschenitza /

Kucnica (AT, SL) – the Austrian League for

Nature Conservation Styria

(Naturschutzbund Steiermark) with the

involved stakeholders (private

landowners, mayors, government) has

inspired the purchase of land for

protection of species rich meadows and

renaturation areas through

Naturschutzbund as the most important

instrument in order to achieve the 2 main

objectives, the non-deterioration

principle and the improvement of natural

biodiversity.

Actors: Austrian League for Nature

Conservation Styria, private landowners,

mayors, government

First successes/goals: Austrian League for

Nature Conservation Styria has achieved

to buy more than 20 Biotopes near the

Kutschenitza in the Natura 2000 area Höll.

Renaturation and conservation goals for

these Biotopes are achieved – for further

purchase of land – awareness has been

raised through

Close cooperation with

landowners, mayors of the region

and regional nature protection

guides and project partners

Cooperation with the Styrian

government, water authorities

especially with the planning group

for renaturation

Cooperation with scientists

concerning plants, lepidoptera,

birds, orthoptera, odonata, etc.

Publication of results.

27

Excursion of Students to the border meadows

along the Kutschenitza

Maintenance of a biotope by the Austrian League for

Nature Conversation - Team

Tephroseris integrifolia subsp. aurantiaca

Meadows of Höll

Polysarcus denticauda

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Karin Kowol

BUND Thuringia, DE

Environmental education at the

German Green Belt

Background information The Green Belt as the longest wildlife

corridor, habitat for a big variety of rare

species and living monument of the

European history, provides a lot of

possibilities for project orientated

environmental education.

In the last fifteen years BUND Thuringia

has implemented several school projects

and even kindergarten projects

combining information about inner

German history with practical evaluations

of habitats and species. Standing at the

“living trace of history in the landscape”,

pupils have developed an interest for

natural processes and requirements of

rare species as well as for the history that

has taken place partly before their birth.

Target groups:

Kids – raising natural curiosity for own

discovery

Pupils – imparting knowledge

Students – offering topics for research,

giving background knowledge

Grown-ups – showing aspects of

history and nature

Locals – showing unknown values of

„homeland“

Tourists – presenting highlights of the

region

Mixed groups – telling stories, showing

highlights and impacts

Goals:

to discover nature, plants and animals

– learning to look

to understand natural processes and

interaction with human activity

to value and enjoy landscape and

nature as source for food, clean

water, air, well-being, knowledge,

meeting point

empathy for other creatures

29

School project Green Belt Werra river and mountains: The main

aim of the school project is the transfer of knowledge and

understanding about younger history and processes in nature

influenced by man. Both are related closely to the specific places

of excursion. That means pupils are led to certain areas in the

landscapes “Werra River” and “Werra highland” at the former

inner German border.

Prepared by lectures about the Green Belt and river topics and a

short film about an escape across the border installations, pupils

are led to three places in the area with different natural characteristics. Led by introductions and questions, they have to

identify plants, birds and insects and water organisms and they

are able to talk to a contemporary witness.

Specific topics mentioned are e.g. the connections between

habitat and type of land use and natural potentials, wild life

corridors and succession. At the end the groups of pupils have to

deliver a paper with their evaluation.

Kindergarten project in the Grabfeld

region: The main aim of the

kindergarten project is to show the

kids their home landscape and to

sensibilize them for the requirements

of the natural inhabitants. This has

been implemented by personalizing

a small rare species, the large saw-

tailed bushcricket (Polysarcus

denticauda), which was thought to

be extinct in Thuringia, until it was

found along the Green Belt

Grabfeld.

The kids walk to the habitat of “Billy

Bushcricket”, learning something

about plants along the trail,

searching the small animal by

listening to his “song”. They watch

him climbing long blades of grass.

Afterwards they hear a small story

about him and his wife “Wanda”.

School projects Grabfeld

School project

Grabfeld

Excursion

Excursions for locals and tourists

30

Iztok Erjavec &

Klemen Bizjak

Institute for Sustainable Development

and Holistic Solutions – InTeRCeR, SLO

Land Sharing for Food and

Social Benefits

Background information The Institute for Sustainable Development

and Holistic Solutions – InTeRCeR was

established by academic educated

people who saw that the current

approach to problems in Slovenia is not

solving problems, but instead creating

new ones. The Trend for sustainable

development and its promotion is not

new, elder generations lived by this

principle. They could not afford to destroy

their environment in which they were

living, because the environment has

enabled their survival. People who

promote sustainable development

usually do not even know what it actually

is and what it means.

Actors: Team members of the Institute

InTeRCeR: Klemen Bizjak, Iztok Erjavec,

Andrej Firm, Martina Gopurn

Motivation: Older people in the

countryside possess agricultural land but

because of their age they are not able to

cultivate it alone. Consequently they

cannot get additional income which

could improve their economic status.

Besides this the land is not cultivated and

landscapes are overgrown which lowers

landscape diversity, biodiversity and

traditional landscapes are disappearing.

Unemployed people in towns possess no

arable land, but they are willing to work

and would like to work to improve their

economic status. They cannot afford to

buy expensive organic food and food

represents a great expense for family

budget. Additionally, industrial agriculture

has severe negative impacts on the

environment which also lowers

landscape diversity, biodiversity and is

destroying traditional landscapes.

This situation leads to low self-sufficiency

with local food and an overgrowing of

landscape.

31

Goals: The aim of our project is to establish frame

conditions of sustainable development in rural areas

with intergenerational cooperation between elderly

owners of small multipurpose farm land in the

countryside and unemployed people in towns to

improve their economic and social situation. With the

cooperation we want to restore multipurpose organic

farming which took place in the past. The transfer of this

knowledge from older generations who actively

participated in these farming practices to younger

generations with work on the land is another aim of the

cooperation.

We want to establish social enterprises for people in

cooperative relationships to employ and improve social

and economic status of the participants. This will also

lead to preservation of traditional landscapes and the

landscape and biological diversity.

First success: Our application of the further developed

idea on NO-BLE IDEAS– Young Innovators Network for

Sustainable Ideas in the Agro-Food Sector was selected

and supported as perspective and we became a

member of the office in Styrian Technology Park (STP).

Our idea represents innovation in the field of social

entrepreneurship in the Agro-Food Sector. Styrian Technology Park

was supporting us with an office in their start-up environment from

January to end of September 2014.

Short contribution: Facing so many problems we can not only solve

problem by problem as current politics do, there’s a different

approach needed - holistic. We want to show a different approach

to current problems in Slovenia which is based on knowledge of older

generations and with its transfer to younger generations to upgrade

this knowledge for implementation in today’s time. We are

introducing a pilot eco-social project that unites people with a desire

for organic locally produced food. The project will not only increase

local self-sufficiency and reduce supply chain, but also activate the

unemployed, which will lead to easier entering of the labour market

or to self-employment in the field of local self-sufficiency.

Through the introduction of traditional multipurpose organic

agriculture we will restore traditional landscapes and their economic

and ecological functions with ecosystem services, which are

important in organic farming and are preserving endangered flora

and fauna species existence in these landscapes. It will also help to

create a new nature protection concept through the cooperation

between land users, people who work on the land and nature

conservation experts, the field on which Iztok Erjavec is working.

With our model we will strengthen local economy and rural

development. In this process we will establish social cooperatives for

the production and marketing of regional organic food products,

promote sustainable development of landscapes by introducing

eco-innovations and old farming practices. If we restore the

appearance of landscapes we also have opportunities in tourism.

Results are not just solving economic and social problems but also

ensuring goals of Green Net through restoration of traditional

agriculture practices which were present in these landscapes and

are abandoned, we will preserve them with implementation of our

eco-social idea.

Work = Food+Knowledge

32

Klaus Michalek

Austrian League for Nature

Conversation Burgenland,

Eisenstadt, AT

GreenNet Pilot area

Southern Burgenland

Background information In the GreenNet pilot region Southern

Burgenland there are three nature parks

Geschriebenstein– Írottko, Weinidylle and

Raab–Örség–Goricko and the Natura

2000 Area Lafnitz Valley.

Main problems: Loss of valuable land,

abandonment of management of low-

profit areas, shrub encroachment in

vineyards, orchards, dry and wet

meadows, intensification of agriculture,

destruction of biotopes, fragmentation of

ecological systems and urban sprawl.

Actors: To protect biodiversity in the

region leader projects were developed

together with the leader managing

committee “südburgenland plus” and the

department of nature conservation

Burgenland to restore and to protect

valuable habitats and species living there

and also to use and to market these

habitats for eco-tourism and the

production of local merchandise.

Measures: Clearance of shrubs in vine-

yards, orchards and meadows out of use

and reconstruction in natural meadow

areas. Sustainable maintenance of

valuable areas is established through

traditional land use or the production of

high quality products from the meadow

orchard and the marketing of these local

products. A further instrument for

safeguarding the Green Belt is environ-

mentally - sensitive tourism integrating

natural, historical and cultural aspects.

Activities: Conservation of valuable areas

through land purchase or lease, the

establishing of management plans in the

protected areas (PA), the establishing of

new PA or upgrading the protection

level, the development of a public

biodiversity monitoring, excursions and a

study tour for volunteers of the Austrian

League for Nature Conservation

Burgenland.

33

Results of the GreenNet SWOT-Analysis Southern Burgenland:

Strengths

• Establishment of strategic partnerships

• Consulting nature conservation authorities for the

purpose of designating valuable habitats as

protected areas or upgrading the protection level

• Leader projects to protect biodiversity

• Print media, websites, radio and TV

• Marketing of local products and eco-tourism

• Sustainable agriculture and rural development

Weaknesses

• only few people come to our meetings, we have to

speak personally with stakeholders from bottum up

• many people don‘t care about the idea of Green Belt

and destroy nature out of ignorance and

convenience

• large parts of the Green Belt are not protected and

protected areas like Natura 2000, nature park,

protected landscape areas are not under strict

protection

Opportunities

• Meetings with the mayors, land owners, farmers and

volunteers

• Mobilisation of volunteers: trying to convince the local

population of the idea of Green Belt in personal talks

• Establishing traditional land use

• Regional economic cycles

• Environmentally-sensitive tourism integrating natural,

historical and cultural aspects

• Marketing of regional products together with tourism and

agriculture

• Establishment of new PA & management plans

• Development of public biodiversity monitoring

(www.bidimo.at)

Threats

• Intensification of acriculture in Burgenland

• Preparation of land for building

• Globalisation of production and markets

• Economic instruments and their ignorance of nature

conservation

Mobilisation of volunteers - Study trip to the Őrség-Goričko National Park

Cross-border nature park Geschriebenstein-ĺrottkő

34

Petko Tzvetkov,

Despina Kitanova

& Wolfgang Fremuth

Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, BG/

Macedonian Ecological Society, MK/

Frankfurt Zoological, DE

Challenges in Biodiversity Conservation in

Transboundary Green Belt Region

of Osogovo Mountains

Background information The Green Belt is a symbol of biodiversity,

habitats and landscapes along the Iron

Curtain; its values are well-known and

accepted as significant for conservation

in the Central European countries. In the

Balkans, the areas along the Green Belt

are not sufficiently valued, and therefore

not appropriately protected despite the

fact that the natural and cultural values

are in some cases recognized on a

national and international level.

The Osogovo Mountains are located on

the border between Bulgaria and

Macedonia. Its values have been

identified as important in several national

and international documents focused on

nature protection. Between 2007 and

2013, the process of defining new

protected areas was implemented; the

Green Belt initiative was used as a symbol

for protection and promotion of the

values and development of the region.

Various approaches were applied inclu-

ding the landscape approach,

development of new protected areas

(PA), popularization of the current

concept of biosphere reserves, etc.

Through the example of establishment of

a new PA in the Osogovo Mountains, the

challenges of stakeholders involvement

at a national and local level were

tackled. Because of the region´s obvious

need for sustainable economic

development, all stakeholders were

involved in the common definition of the

criteria and approach in the selection of

the PA model. This example can be used

to improve the approach in defining

other PAs, define and apply more

successful models and approaches along

the Green Belt, in particular in the

Balkans.

35

Project partners: FZS – Frankfurt Zoological Society, Pro Natura –

financial support, MES – Macedonian Ecological Society, BBF –

Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation - implementers

Location: The Osogovo Mountains are located on the border

between Bulgaria and Macedonia, along the Balkan Green

Belt, covering an area of 1,537 km2 and their highest peak is

Ruen - 2,251 meters above sea level

Initiative:Osogovo a priority area for protection along the

border between Bulgaria and Macedonia, as confirmed

with the agreement between the Ministries of

Environment of both countries, in support of the initiative

“Balkan Green Belt“, especially if taking into

consideration the following:

Biodiversity and human heritage preserved in unique

areas

Ecological significance of the region (biological and

landscape diversity)

Nationally and internationally, Osogovo has been

identified as:

Important corridor for migration of large

carnivores within the Pan-European

Ecological Network (PEEN SEE)

Important Plant Area - IPA

Important Bird Area – IBA

Part of the EU Natura 2000 network at

least in Bulgaria.

Significant interest in local sustainable economic

development

Identified need for planned use of natural resources

Major achievments:

Protected area proposals developed for both

countries; biodiversity and agro biodiversity data

collected; land use; forest management analysis and

use of natural resources, spatial data, remote sensing

and habitats mapping, sociological studies, analyses

and zoning of key target species and habitats;

Strengthened cooperation with stakeholders through

their inclusion in networks and the steering body with a

role to support the process of natural an cultural values

protection in the region;

Enhanced sustainable use of resources: sustainable

agriculture and farming, sustainable tourism,

sustainable forestry and certification;

Developed Communication Strategy and

environmental education and trainings.

In addition to the scenario of national PA proclamation of

Osogovo Mts., the region also qualifies for recognition under

the UNESCO´s Man and Biosphere Programme as a

transboundary biosphere reserve.

cultural and historical values

36

Michala Kopečková &

Jan Hibler

Civic associations Ametyst, CZ

The content of the excursion has been:

observing landscape, comparing

landscape on the Czech side (former

border zone) and German side,

comparing old and actual aerial photos,

discussing the reasons of differences,

visiting of former Sudeten village and

watching the beaver´s presence marks.

Experiences: Until now 8 excursions have

been realized, one of them for joined

German and Czech grammar schools.

Students and teachers enjoyed the

excursion and learned much about the

iron curtain and also about the history of

Sudeten. Learning by experience is more

effective. The Methodology may be

adapted for other places.

School expedition to the Green Belt.

A reminder of history and

chance for the future

Background information Young people have an insufficient

knowledge about the iron curtain and

the division of Europe and it is a long lost

history for them.Even older people seem

to forget the years of totalitarianism, lack

of freedom and absurdities.We consider

freedom a commonplace.

Goals: Let young people experience the

consequence of history, show them the

value of freedom and make them

acquainted with the idea of the

European Green Belt.

Action: An excursion for 14 to 19 old

students to the former border zone was

prepared. The students visited

Untergrafenried and Nemanice on the

Czech-Bavarian border.

37

Short contribution: People of the young generation in the

Czech Republic have insufficient knowledge about tragic

affairs in Europe in the second half of the 20th century and

they don’t consider it to be important nor even interesting. To

change this state we prepared a methodology for a school

excursion for 14 to 19 year old students in the Green Belt on the

Czech-Bavarian border.

The first stop is on the border line in a German village

Untergrafenried, where the students watch the landscape and

write or draw some differences between the landscape on

Czech and German side of the border. They compare aerial

photographs of the area from late 40s and recent. Together

with the lector the students try to find out, where the

differences between past and present and between Czech

and German side came from. It is necessary to speak about

the iron curtain and also about the withdrawal of Germans

from Czechoslovakia after the World War II. The students

discuss the consequences of the iron curtain for the nature.

The second stop is in the former Sudeten village Lučina /

Grafenried that was abandoned after 1945. After 1950 all the

area has been in the forbidden border zone and the village has

been destroyed. The students get an old cadastral map from

1838, in which they find out, how the land around the village has

been used. They have to find remains of 5 buildings and note

them in the map. They also get pictures of the village from the

beginning and end of 20th century and describe changes in-

between them. The last part of the excursion is focused on the

European beaver. It is also one of the symbols of reunion of

Europe because the beavers came back to Bohemia from

Germany. The lector shows the signs of beaver´s presence and

activities and students assess the influence of beavers on nature.

Excursion Untergrafenried –

a village on the border Czech-German excursion

38

Impressions - Excursion in Pilot Region “ Grabfeld”: Visiting examples of values of the Green-Belt-landscape and

cooperation between agriculture

and nature conservation

39

40

References Baumert, G. (2014). Documentation, Information and Education on the Green Belt – an Example. PowerPoint presentation – 3rd

scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

Baumert, G. (2014). Grenzlandmuseum Eichsfeld. Abstract – 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

Erjavec, I. & Bizjak, K. (2014). Basic data. Abstract for the lecture – 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

Gepp, J., Ehrenpaar, M. & Fuchs, M. (2014). Save species-rich Meadows on the Green Belt of Kutschenitza by Acquisition. Abstract

for the lecture – 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

Heinrichs, A.K. & Milushev, V. (2014). Belasitsa Beyond Borders – Transboundary Cooperation along the Balkan Green Belt.

PowerPoint presentation - 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

Heinrichs, A.K. & Milushev, V. (2014). Belasitsa Beyond Borders – Transboundary Cooperation along the Balkan Green Belt. Abstract

- 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

Kitanova, D., Tzvetkov, P. & Fremuth, W. (2014). Challenges in Biodiversity Conservation in Transboundary Green Belt Region of

Osogovo Mountains. PowerPoint presentation – 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

Kitanova, D., Tzvetkov, P. & Fremuth, W. (2014). Challenges in Biodiversity Conservation in Transboundary Green Belt Region of

Osogovo Mountains. Abstract – 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

Kopečková, M. & Hibler, J. (2014). School expedition to the Green Belt. A reminder of history and chance for the future. PowerPoint

presentation – 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

Kopečková, M. & Hibler, J. (2014). School expedition to the Green Belt. A reminder of history and chance for the future. Abstract for

the lecture – 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

Kowoll, K. (2014). Environmental Education at the German Green Belt. PowerPoint presentation – 3rd scientific Greennet

Conference in Eisenach.

Kowoll, K. (2014). Environmental Education at the German Green Belt. Abstract – 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

Michalek, K. (2014). GreenNet Pilot area Southern Burgenland. PowerPoint presentation – 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in

Eisenach.

Michalek, K. (2014). GreenNet Pilot area Southern Burgenland. Abstract – 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

Schmigalle, S. & Schrader, B. (2014). The Thuringian Nature Conservation Trust - Good examples, different methods and new ideas

within the management of the Green Belt Thuringia. PowerPoint presentation – 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

41

Visintin, F. (2014). Basic data. Abstract for the lecture – 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

Visintin, F. (2014). Assessing ecosystem services of the Natural protected Areas the case of the Julian Prealps park along the

European GreenBelt. PowerPoint presentation – 3rd scientific Greennet Conference in Eisenach.

The references of the pictures of the brochure are listed below:

All the photos of the good examples contributions are part of the presentations.

Avramov, Stefan: Picture of the Dalmatian Pelicans

Kreutz, Melanie: Group picture

Marschall, Ilke: Photos of both conference days, including the photos of the contributors; Photos of the conference dinner; photos of

the excursion.

42

Contact persons of the 11 presented projects and initiatives

person e-mail

Baumert, Georg g.baumert@grenzlandmuseum.de

Bizjak, Klemen klemen.bizjak@gmail.com

Ehrenpaar, Markus markus.ehrenpaar@naturschutzbundsteiermark.at

Erjavec, Iztok iztokerjavec@gmail.com

Fremuth, Wolfgang fremuth@zgf.de

Fuchs, Dr. Melitta melitta.fuchs@naturschutzbundsteiermark.at.

Gepp, Prof. Dr. Johannes j.gepp@naturschutzinstitut.at

Heinrichs, Anne-Katrin anne.katrin.heinrichs@euronatur.org

Hibler, Jan hibler@ametyst21.cz

Kitanova, Despina kitanova@mes.org.mk

Kopečková, Michala kopeckova@ametyst21.cz

Kowol, Karin karin.kowoll@bund.net

Michalek, Dr. Klaus klaus.michalek@aon.at

Milushev, Vladimir vladimir.milushev@biodiversity.bg

Schmigalle, Stella gst_snt@tlug.thueringen.de

Schrader, Beate beate.schrader@tlug.thueringen.de

Trenc, Neven Neven.Trenc@dzzp.hr

Tzvetkov, Petko petko.tzvetkov@biodiversity.bg

Visintin, Francesca francesca.visintin@ceta.ts.it