There are several mining projects in the former border regions, destroying intact habitats, e.g. in the southern foothills of the German Harz mountains where plans for gypsum extraction endanger thermophile Karst habitats. In the Werra floodplain the discharge of saline wastewater leads to grave impacts on biodiversity. In the Morava floodplain gravel extraction is a problem. Waste deposit has become a problem, too.
In several areas people regard the Green Belt as 'no man's land' without any restrictions. So illegal waste deposit is a problem, too.
Images: Gypsum mining in the southern Harz region, BUND Thuringia, Kali stockpile in the Werra floodplain, waste deposit in the Green Belt, both Karin Kowol