3rd GreenNet-Conference in Eisenach, June, 3.-4.

Good examples, successful measures and new ideas are called for the 3rd international scientific and final GreenNet conference of the EU project GreenNet – Promoting the ecological network of the European Green Belt (http://www.greennet-project.eu).

The University of Applied Sciences Erfurt and the Association of Rural Development Thuringia will be hosts of the conference: „Perspectives for biological & cultural diversity along the European Green Belt – good examples, successful measures & new ideas“ on 3/4 June 2014 in Eisenach, Germany.

Registrations are possible until 20 May 2014. We are calling for practical or scientific short papers with pictures or posters, showing successful cooperation along the Green Belt until 15 March 2014 to greennet@fh-erfurt.de.

The European Green Belt as a multifunctional ecological network has a unique natural and cultural heritage with an emotional human and political history, meaning and transformative power. It is a corridor full of biodiversity hotspots in a more and more fragmented, intensively used and degraded European landscape and connects people from 24 European countries and a great amount of valuable landscapes.

The concept of ecological networks developed from a single nature protection strategy over decades to a comprehensive strategy including cultural, social and economic aspects. It delivers value and multiple benefits from nature to people and society as well as the adaption to climate change.
But the political and legal implementation, the lack of an integrative policy is still a huge challenge as it was shown in the 2nd scientific conference: „How to push the European Green Belt by landscape policy instruments?“

http://www.fh-erfurt.de/fhe/en/transport-and-spatial-planning-institute/metaprojektliste/2011/greennet/

On the practical level onsite there are diverse examples and inspiring new ideas at the European Green Belt, as successful nature conservation, agricultural rezoning, community supported economies like markets with typical local products and food, sheep stocks or regional money, , historical “smug-gling-tours”, walking and cycling paths, contacts to the transition movement, nature movie festivals, working with schools and students …

We are looking forward to your ideas and contributions!
Prof. Dr. Ilke Marschall, Prof. Dr. Matthias Gather
contact: K.M. Mueller, greennet@fh-erfurt.de