Full Breakdown
From a Cold War “Death Strip” to Germany’s Green Biodiversity Belt
7/19/2026, 12:15:31 PM
Species Richness and Protection
The Ministry reports roughly 7,500 registered insect and spider species, of which 580 are classified as endangered or threatened. Mammals such as otters and European wildcats, as well as birds like whinchats and lapwings, now inhabit the corridor. About 88 % of the belt is under formal protection, preserving rare moorlands and a 400-hectare peat bog near Salzwedel that is accessible via a boardwalk.
Official Conservation Efforts
In early July, the states of Thuringia, Bavaria and Saxony agreed to permanently safeguard a 95-kilometre segment of the belt by 2028, backed by a multi-million-euro management plan with 75 % of funding from the Environment Ministry. The German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), which has 520,000 members, began acquiring plots along the belt in 2000 and now manages roughly 1,000 hectares.
Opposition and Threats
BUND warns that agricultural expansion threatens habitat continuity. Six years ago the Bavarian BUND faction criticised a road that “dominated” the belt, noting that “animals and plants are repeatedly cut off from their path, or pedestrians and cyclists suddenly find themselves in the middle of a cornfield.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was a death strip that was insurmountable and served as a dividing line,” — Andreas Heil, Environment Ministry
- “Today, it is exactly the opposite: something that brings people together.” — Andreas Heil, Environment Ministry
- “Because the military road was closed off and no one was allowed in here — at least not me, as an ordinary GDR citizen — species that aren't found anywhere else, were able to establish themselves in this area, even after reunification.” — Carsten Schneider, Environment Minister
- “Many areas were drained before the fall of the Wall, in the 19th and 20th century. They were completely converted for agricultural use,” — Nathalie Niederdrenk, Environment Ministry
- “This is where we began purchasing the first plots along the 'Green Belt' in 2000, using BUND donations and funding from the Environment Ministry. It has become our largest project, covering 1,000 hectares.” — Olaf Bandes, BUND
- “Bavarian State Premier Markus Söder said it was an important environmental project, especially in the face of drastic climate change.” — Markus Söder, Bavarian State Premier
