A wildlife corridor, called the European Green Belt, is located along the former Iron Curtain in Europe and connects National Parks all the way from Finland to Greece.

Before the fall of the Soviet Union, tensions in Europe were high on both sides of the continent. The borders were closed from the public – landmines and the long stretches of barbed wire made these border zones nearly desolate. Many people lost their lives in these no-go zones, as they were trying to cross the border in search of a better life. However, in these closed border zones, that used to span the length of the European continent, nature was protected from major changes.

With the Cold War having ended, these areas represent inestimable ecological and cultural values. The 5282 mile (8500 kilometer) long section boasts forests, natural parks, connecting the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic Sea, and stands as a memorial to one of the most impactful conflicts of the post-war era.

The European Green Belt stretches across 22 European countries. Image credit: Smaack

Coordinated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a conservation initiative called the European Green Belt aims to preserve the natural border strip that was created during the Cold War. It’s also a special case of cross-border cooperation between countries that were separated by the Iron Curtain. The European Green Belt contains natural flora and fauna that is distinctive to the different regions along its course. Given the political, biological and socio-economic diversity of European countries, the belt takes on various forms.

Along its four regional sections, rare species were able to find a new home on these lands. For example, in the northern forests of Norway, Finland and Russia elks and bears can be found living their best life, and in the southern mountainous regions of the Balkans, lynxes and pelicans thrive. These green corridors have created complex ecosystems, and they allow species to maintain their natural habitat, exchange genes, and migrate.

Geographically, the European Green Line is divided into the Finnish-Russian and Norwegian-Russian borders in the North, the Central European zones, and the diverse landscapes of the corridor in Southern Europe.

Monument from the remains of the Iron Curtain not far from the border crossing between the Czech Republic and Germany. Image credit: Rosa-Maria Rinkl

Biologists first noticed the positive effects of strict border control in the 1970s, when aerial images of the Finnish-Russian border revealed a green belt of old forest along the zone. In the course of the next few decades, rare bird species that had disappeared from their natural habitat were discovered to have found refuge along the border-line of Central Europe. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, borders reopened and the European integration of new member states began. Border posts, and military facilities in the area of border zones got closed down. However, it wasn’t entirely clear which country these areas belonged to, and what their fate would be after the Cold War.

Thus, the first effort to maintain a protected border area was born in Germany in light of this territorial uncertainty. The Green Belt Resolution was signed by more than 300 environmentalists, initiating the first conservation projects regarding the inner German border. Due to the success of the project, the Green Belt was extended to the whole European continent, and the first European Green Belt conference took place in 2003. Following that, support for the Green Belt has only grown, and today it stretches through 22 European countries as a living monument.

Unfortunately, the initiative to protect green spaces along the borders has not been so easy everywhere. At the southern part of the Green Belt, for example, the fall of Yugoslavia was followed by a series of cruel wars, and many people didn’t see wildlife protection as a priority. When the wars ended, however, there was growing awareness in the region to conserve the area’s natural treasures.

Inner German border on the road from Lübeck to Herrnburg in 1989. Image credit: Hellebardius

While there are still gaps in the Green Belt, further additions to the corridor are still planned to date, as it has turned into a lifeline for many species. There have been even serious considerations to nominate the European Green Belt as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, because of its important historical and ecological significance.