Grünes Band Europa e.V.

On 4 November 1993 we founded our association with 11 members. In January 1994 our association was registered in the Plauen record of associations as r. A. VR 668: non-profit-making association. Meanwhile our association had about 40 members.
The care of the "Green Ribbon" was the leading idea in founding the association. The former East-West border was declared "Green Ribbon of Europe" by the EU and is today part of the Saxon protected areas. Here nature has been left undisturbed for almost 40 years.
	For that reason we find many rare plants and animals in that area. Main purpose of the associaton is apart from the care and conservation of the local flora and fauna also the environmental education and training, to make the people of the region - especially the young generation - aware of the needs of the protection of nature and species. The open country of our area offers enough space for the nature teaching garden with Kneipp facility, adventure paths and a small pond area. There are quiz-slates in German and Czech for the trial-diploma together with a big forest piano and a jumping pit to compete with the animals of the forest. Visitors are welcome!
We take care of some of the flora and fauna areas in our region which are being protected in the framework of the Natura2000 Programme of the EU – especially humid – and mountain meadows which need a lot of hard work by hand. Our landscape groups are in charge of the recycling process, the formation of small ponds and drains.
	To acquire own means is getting more and more important for the existence of our association in the face of economy measures. For that reason our creative ones have plenty to do. They make nisting boxes for birds, bats and insects in the framework of biological protection measures, signposts and gifts of wood and dried plants and many more.
Since 1996 we have restored the area of our association by ourselves and we have built a nature and leisure centre in the former old Windisch mill. Teaching rooms, the Moosmann bowling alley, the outdoor green school and the hostel with lodging facilities have come about.
	Still there will be much voluntary and financial help needed to complete the non-profit-making nature and leisure centre. Any donation and help is welcome – there is much left to be done.

From the chronicle