BESTbelt Pan-European Conference 2022

The first BESTbelt Conference took place from 01 to 04 November 2022 in the beautiful costal town of Ulcinj, Montenegro. This conference gave the participants the opportunity to connect again in person, share experiences, increase networks and discuss new approaches to strengthen the European Green Belt. The main focus of the BESTbelt Conference was the implementation of the EU-funded BESTbelt project, its ability to unlock the local potential to conserve biodiversity and to increase the visibility of the European Green Belt. 

In Montenegro, the coastal and border region around Ulcinj provided an ideal setting for the thematic aspects of the BESTbelt Conference and the participants were able to see local examples on a field trip day. 

Programme of the BESTbelt Conference 2022 (pdf)

 

Opening and Welcome Speeches

  • Ivana Karađinović, manager of municipality Ulcinj
  • Tamara Brajović, Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism
  • Laura Zampetti, EU Delegation to Montenegro
  • Jutta Paulus, Member of the European Parlament, video message
  • Milena Bataković, Environmental Protection Agency Montenegro

  • Ben Caspar, DG Environment

     

Session 1: BESTbelt - More power for the European Green Belt

  1. ECO-TOURISM SOLUTIONS FOR THE SMALL RURAL ENTREPRENEURS ALONG EGB IN LITHUANIA, Agne Vaitkuviene, Lithuanian countryside tourism association (pdf)
  2. Reduction of eutrophication in underwood and advanced growth of grey and wooded dune habitats, Janis Matulis and Ilmārs Bodnieks, Latvian Green Movement (pdf)
  3. A common Code of Conduct for Green Belt coastal nature territories in Latvia, Juris Smalinskis, Latvian Country Tourism Association (pdf)
  4. Restoring biodiversity along the Italian Greenbelt: forgotten bunkers, abandoned meadows and disappearing ponds, Francesca Visintin and Davide Scridel, Associazione Rete Italiana European Green Belt APS and WILD ROUTES (pdf)
  5. Stitary - Centre of Local Biodiversity, Erika Smrtová and Matěj Pokorný, Obec Krasna (pdf)
  6. Mitigation of the impacts of electrocution on Eagle Owl in Western Slovenia, DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia (pdf)
  7. Mapping and restoring fens and lean wet meadows, Christine Pühringer, Margit Gross and Thomas Wrbka, League of Nature Conservation Lower Austria (Naturschutzbund NÖ), University of Vienna – Department of Botany and Biodiversity Resarch (pdf)
  8. Micro wetlands: Fountains of Life for Biodiversity and Human Wellbeing, Petar Vanev, Topolovgrad Municipality and Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation (BBF) (pdf)
  9. Towards Biodiversity Conservation and Strengthening Protected Area management of Cijevna River, Andrijana Mićanovic, NGO Montenegrin Ecologists Society and Eco-team (pdf)
  10. OLD MOUNTAIN-NEW PRACTICES: a circular economy focused on people and nature, Dobrila Sudimac Mratinkovic, Citizen Association TEAM (pdf)

  11. Bees & greens: Evidence-based advocacy for polilnator-friendly best management practices in protected areas of the Green Belt in Serbia, Organisation for Respect and Care of Animals - ORCA (pdf)

     

Session 2: Potential of green jobs for the European Green Belt

  1. „Training of guides through the local landscape of the Pilsen Region“, Alexandra Hrušková, REVIS (pdf)
  2. “Pasvik-Inari potential for green jobs in the North of Green Belt of Fennoscandia”, Aimo Saano, Metsähallitus (pdf)
  3. “Creation of hospitality jobs along the Baltic coastline”, Juris Smalinskis, Latvian Country Tourism association "Lauku celotajs" (pdf)

  • Panel discussion between Ksenija Medenica (CZIP), Oana Forestier (Trinomics), Petko Tzvetkov (BBF) and Benjamin Caspar (EU Commission) on the potential of green jobs along the European Green Belt and how to address challenges, moderated by Gabriel Schwaderer (EuroNatur)#

     

Session 3: Potential of the European Green Belt for Climate Protection and Nature Restoration

Session 4: Success stories of nature restoration and protection along the European Green Belt

Opening of exhibition “'Borderbarriers and Ecocorridors at the Edge of Europe” (pdf)

 

Session 5: Working groups on the road (pdf)

Parallel field-trips to visit best practices at Saline Ulcinj and Ada Bojana. Exchange and discussion on potential of green jobs, restoration measures, threats and successful strategies.#

 

Session 6: Review of BESTbelt Conference (pdf)

 

Session 7: Sharing of knowledge and experiences (working groups) (pdf)

  1. Promotion of the EGB Days and discussion how to improve the performance; Lead: EuroNatur together with Green Balkans (Bulgaria) and PPNEA (Albania)
  2. Spatial delineation of the EGB: Presentation of methodological approach in Italy and exchange of experiences; Lead: Rete Italiana EGB
  3. Workcamps and youth exchange: Lead: BUND Thuringia
  4. Future Workshop: European Green Belt - Challenges and potential for the next 30 years, Lead: EuroNatur