BESTbelt –A driver for Europe
BESTbelt pilot project –Key facts
The BESTbelt project aims to unlock local potential across the European Green Belt. The pilot project encourages cross-border cooperation, brings together actors from different countries and regions, and empowers local actors to get active through a small grant programme.
21 countries, over 80 different organisations, over 1,250 stakeholders people connected
49 projects funded 36 regular, 13 transboundary
Grant approx. € 3.5 million
Duration 2021 – 2026
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Course of the European Green Belt through Europe
Importance of the European Green Belt and BESTbelt
Europe’s longest green network (12,500 km) along former Iron Curtain
• Symbol for European peace and cross-border cooperation
• Potential future UNESCO World Heritage Site
Multiple opportunities for generating sustainable income through green jobs
• Empowerment of local civil society organistions by providing training in project management and the efficient use of EU funds.
Key potentials of a BESTbelt Preparatory Action for
the EU
1. Driver of competitiveness and rural resilience: BESTbelt strengthens local economies by promoting sustainable land and resource use, and community-led development. It fosters green businesses and diversification of local rural economies.
2. Jobs and innovation: BESTbelt supports green skills training, youth engagement and job creation in rural areas.
3. Promotion of European cohesion and peace: BESTbelt supports structured cross-border projects that also bring together EU and EUaccession countries stakeholders, strengthening diplomatic and cultural ties.
4. Security and stability: By maintaining healthy ecosystems, BESTbelt contributes to long-term productivity and reduces economic losses from environmental degradation.
Job potential of the European Green Belt
The European Green Belt has great potential for generating sustainable income, particularly in rural areas – through sustainable tourism, agriculture, forestry and related industries, as well as conservation and restoration.
• Economic leverage through tourism: Every € 1,380 invested in walking tourism development can potentially yield nearly € 18,000 in revenue (≈ 13× leverage).
• Macroeconomic impact: If the entire European Green Belt was protected, it could provide over 350,000 green jobs, translating into an estimated GDP effect of around € 525 million per month (assuming € 1,500 per job per month).
project insight #01
Balkania Route: Two steps towards others – Sustainable tourism as driver for green jobs
• Concept for a 3,340 km hiking route along the Balkan Green Belt, including GPS tracks, created and published.
• Cross-border cooperation on hiking and sustainable tourism strengthened between five Balkan countries.
• Basis created for green jobs through sustainable tourism along the trail.
• Blue print for a long-distance hiking trail along the entire European Green Belt.
Transboundary
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project insight
Cultural and natural inventory at the Bavarian-Czech border – Shared natural and cultural heritage of Europe
• History of the Iron Curtain along the BavarianCzech border area made tangible through a dedicated app.
• Comprehensive and geo-based inventory of 200 Points of Interest along the BavarianCzech border created.
• Interviews with contemporary witnesses conducted.
• Awareness raised for the European Green Belt and its importance to connect people across borders. scan for project website
project insight #03
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Empowering rural women through creating small sustainable businesses –Local resources as driver for green jobs
• 20 rural women in North Macedonia received training in setting up local sustainable businesses.
• 10 women launched their own microbusinesses based on traditional products.
• Over 20 different local products were branded and presented at local fairs.
• Women connected with local tourism facilities, helping to enrich the regional economy and reduce rural-to-urban migration.
North Macedonia Grant
more to find about BESTbelt
www.europeangreenbelt.org/bestbelt
Imprint: EuroNatur Foundation –Chair of the European Green Belt Association e.V. Westendstraße I 78315 Radolfzell I Germany Tel: +49 7732 92720 I Fax: + 49 7732 927222 association@europeangreenbelt.org
Photo Credits: p. 1: ©Gavrilo Knezevic, p. 2: Map ©European Green Belt Association, p. 3: ©Petar Vanev, ©berlinHistory e.V., ©Frosina Pandurska-Dramikjanin.
Design: ÖkoMedia GmbH
This flyer has been produced with the financial support of the European Union through the BESTbelt project. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.