Green Belt Europe

Borders separate — Nature unites

Downloads Interreg-Project finished 2008

Green Belt Thuringia

More than half of the former inner German border is located in the federal state Thuringia. Because of its insuperability it has become a refuge for many rare species like the Black Stork or the Whinchat. Accepting the responsibility for this sensitive region, the Thuringian government developed general principles for the future of the Green Belt Thuringia. The development objectives were defined clearly. On their basis a dynamic process has started. In situ local work groups discussed conflicts in land use and found linkages and solutions.

Consequentially the Green Belt became part of the national natural heritage in 2005.

- The general principle for the Green Belt Thuringia:

- Nature has priority.

- Parts of the German history shall be kept visible and and perceptible n the Green Belt.

- The economic potentials of the Green Belt especially in the fields of tourism and leisure are to be utilized.

- The future land use has to be sustainable, conflict-free and broadly agreed by the local population.

The Thuringian government's main objective in the Green Belt is the preservation and development of nature by succession, extensive land use and management. The Thuringian government developed a concept for future land use on the root idea of a balance between nature conservation and agricultural and forest use, more and more integrating touristic aspects. Local acceptance is seen as the main precondition for success. Former land-owners mainly from Thuringia, but also from Hesse and Bavaria, who have been exposed to severe restrictions are supposed to accept the measures for the preservation oft the Green Belt instead of conceiving them as second expropriation.
The Green Belt is supposed to give an impression, how a separating border can become an extraordinary and perceptible connecting link for man, nature and history.
In the menue you find a selection of border crossing projects in Thuringia like:

Nature conservation:

- Dankmarshäuser Rhäden (Hesse / Thuringia)

- Steinach Valley – Linder Lowlands (Bavaria / Thuringia)

- Thuringian Muschwitz (Bavaria, Thuringia)

Gentle tourism

- Three – Free States - Stone (Bavaria, Saxonia, Thuringia)

Contact:

Thüringer Ministerium für

Landwirtschaft, Naturschutz und Umwelt

Abteilung Forsten, Naturschutz, Ländlicher Raum

Ref. Ländlicher Raum, Flächenhaushaltspolitik

Postfach 90 03 65