In South-East Europe, the  Green Belt ecological corridor runs along the Albanian, Kosovo and Macedonian border. Beginning in 1991, after the fall of the Iron Curtain, former Yugoslavia broke up into several composite republics, one of which was Macedonia. Serbia responded to independence aspirations with military force. After the  NATO intervention in 1999, the province of Kosovo became a UN protectorate and went on to declare itself a republic in 2008. Albania likewise underwent political transformation during the 1990s. The EU has granted candidate status to Macedonia and also recognises Albania and Kosovo as potential candidates.

The  European Green Belt Initiative has the vision of creating the backbone of an ecological network from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea as a symbol of cross-border cooperation in nature conservation and of sustainable development. The area along the former Iron Curtain is to be transformed into an ecological corridor under international protection. The initiative also aims to help harmonise human activities with the natural environment and promote the socioeconomic development of local populations. Key aims in South-East Europe also include conflict prevention and international understanding.

The project also promotes public acceptance of the work of armed border guards and their integration into local communities in that they are involved in protecting shared natural heritage and the region’s unique biodiversity. Information on nature along the south-eastern European Green Belt was prepared in a  field guide.