Project structure

In spring 2007, the testing and development (T+D) project "Experience Green Belt" was started. Its objective is to make the Green Belt national nature heritage accessible for sustainable tourism, and thus also ensure its long-term preservation. The "Green Belt Tourism" can at the same time serve as a stimulus for a sustainable agriculture, artisanship and commerce, and by virtue of its positive economic effects, increase the standing of the Green Belt in the eyes of visitors and local people.

The project is supported by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) with resources from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

The implementation of the project takes place in three model regions:

• Elbe-Altmark-Wendland - "border experiences in the quadripoint country"

• Harz - "Harz without frontiers" - "On Harz border paths through nature and history"

• Nature Parks Thuringian Forest & Slate Mountains / Franconian Forest - "The Green Belt (inter)active Experience"

In all model regions, cross-border cooperation is an important cornerstone. Not only official, but also specialist barriers need to be overcome, for example between the different bodies for nature conservation, agriculture, tourism and historical monuments. The experiences obtained should be made use of, and measures transferred to other regions.

The Project Office Green Belt of the BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland e.V.) has assumed the scientific monitoring for the project.