“Experience the Green Belt”, Germany

Due to its wealth of species and habitats, many of them endangered, and its key role in the biotope network, the Green Belt has particularly high value for nature conservation. Located at the former inner-German border, nature was able to develop undisturbed for decades. The Green Belt also connects valuable areas and cleared, intensively used agricultural landscapes such as the fertile plains along its borders and offers the only remaining refuge for a wealth of species of flora and fauna which are sensitive to disturbance and/or are endangered.
© Frankenwald Tourismus RV / Thüringer Wald
© Frankenwald Tourismus RV / Thüringer Wald

To assure the preservation of the Green Belt in the long term, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) has supported a project entitled “Experience the Green Belt” since 2007. It is intended to increase awareness of the importance of the Green Belt in the region and beyond, and improve its visibility, thus making it possible for visitors and holiday-makers to experience its landscapes with their specific history. The project includes specific measures for landscape management, the provision of uniform waymarks and signage, the creation of bicycle and hiking routes, exhibitions, and development and marketing of tourist and nature conservation offers.

Three model regions along the Green Belt have been identified for the development of appropriate marketing strategies, each focussing on a different overarching theme. A key element here is the region’s history as the former inner-German border. For each region, appropriate tourist offers have been developed, with local tourism businesses being encouraged to participate. The involvement of local crafts and other historical aspects of the region are also important.

Transboundary cooperation is also being supported in each model region. This extends not only to overcoming administrative (e.g. county or state) borders, but also borders between different disciplines such as nature conservation, agriculture, and tourism, and between the persons responsible for managing historic sites. The aim is therefore to pursue an integrative approach which makes a valuable contribution to environmentally compatible regional development in the long term.

The various stakeholders in the model regions are given professional and scientific support. General project evaluation is important here, as is the development of a uniform brand image, specialist advice and central marketing.

Balance

A wide range of offers has already been developed; these are being marketed jointly on the Internet and in brochures with “Erlebnis Grünes Band/Experience Green Belt” branding.

Further information

Measure

Tourist marketing of the biotope network

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Benjamin-Klack_pixelio.deAll users of these pages can contribute examples of practical experience gained in pilot regions and elsewhere in the Alps by completing a form, making that experience available to the public. The form will reach us by e-mail. We will check whether all required information is included and plausible and will then create a new page for the example. To ensure maximum readership the example will be translated into English. The form can however be completed in German, French or Italian.

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