In December 1989, Germany’s ‘Green Belt’ was born.

For more than 40 years, the country had been split by a 1,400km border and, in the decades the so-called ‘death zone’ had existed, life flourished everywhere.

In 1989, communism crumbled and, as soon as the borders opened, Kai Frobel knew he needed to act fast to stop farmers and developers. He called a meeting on 9 December, hoping a few people might come along.

Around 400 people from both sides of the border joined Kai to help create what would become known as Germany’s ‘Green Belt’, securing life in a place which had been associated with death for decades.

Professor Kai Frobel tells Laura Jones about growing up near the fortified GDR border and why it’s such a special place for rare species of birds and animals.

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(Photo: Kai Frobel on the former border between East and West Germany. Credit: BUND Kompetenzzentrum)