European Green Belt introduced at CBD COP 15 in Montreal

From 7 to 19 December 2022 the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) took place in Montreal, Canada. At a side event on peace and biodiversity hosted by the Peace and Biodiversity Dialogue Initiative (PBDI) on 14 December 2022, Boris Erg (Director of the IUCN European Regional Office, Board member of the European Green Belt Association) presented the European Green Belt Initiative as a means to sustain peace and preserve nature in Europe.

The Peace and Biodiversity Dialogue Initiative (PBDI) promotes transboundary cooperation in protected areas globally. At the side event, the PBDI shared its roadmap for the period 2022-2024 and received input from partners. This was followed by presentations from experts on how transboundary conservation areas can contribute to the implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, improve international relations and cooperation, and contribute to peace.

Boris Erg shared the historic background and early start of the European Green Belt Initiative as well as its capacity to bring together people despite and beyond historical events and cultural differences. He stressed that the aim of the European Green Belt is not only to foster conservation actions, but to secure the Initiative as a peace project and memorial landscape.  

A more detailed report of the side event is available here.