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Commission embarks on IAS consultation
02 February 2012The European Commission has begun a period of consultation on a dedicated legislative instrument on invasive alien species (IAS) (27 January to 12 April). It welcomes contributions from all citizens and stakeholder organisations to the new instrument which it aims to develop by 2012.
The Commission adopted a Communication "Towards an EU Strategy on Invasive Species (2008)" to address the gap in legislation on IAS. Last year, the Commission outlined its aim to ensure that "by 2020, Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and their pathways are identified and prioritised, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and pathways are managed to prevent the introduction and establishment of new IAS". The focus of the latest consultation is on the policy measures that are now being considered based on the input and feedback from all relevant stakeholders since the start of the process in 2008.
Nature Scholarship for Young European Conservationists now open
31 January 2012The Alfred Toepfer Natural Heritage Scholarships 2012 are now open for applications!. The award provides three young European conservationists with €3 000 to undertake a study visit to one or more protected area located in a European country other than his/her own. They are awarded by the Alfred Toepfer Foundation and the EUROPARC Federation. The deadline for applications is 11 May, 2012.
The €3 000, donated by the Alfred Toepfer Foundation (DE), gives successful scholars the chance to gather experience and strengthen their networks. Applicants must be under 35 and of European nationality, and themes for applications must be connected to the management of natural areas.
LIFE project removes thousands of highly invasive turtles from European waters
23 January 2012Turtles are a common ‘poster child’ of worldwide conservation efforts. However, exotic species of turtle, such as the common slider (Trachemys scripta), are amongst the most damaging invasive species in Europe. LIFE-Trachemys (LIFE09 NAT/ES/000529) successfully captured 4 600 sliders from wetlands in Valencia in 2011. This represents three times more captures than the preceding year.
10 companies carry out LIFE+ 'Biodiversity Checks'
19 January 2012Ten European companies have pledged to reduce their impact on biodiversity, as part of a LIFE+ project, the European Business and Biodiversity Campaign (LIFE08 INF/D/000022). The companies representative of a broad range of sectors – include a car producer, airport manager, a large travel agency and a producer of outdoor products – have all successfully implemented a ‘Biodiversity Check’ offered by the 2010-2012 project.
LIFE+ RESTORE: sharing river restoration best practices
18 January 2012Sharing best practices on European river restoration is one of the main goals of the LIFE+ Information & Communication project; RESTORE (LIFE09 INF/UK/000032). It was also the topic of a successful workshop hosted last November, by the partnership project in Slovenia.
The workshop, held in November 2011 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, looked at “Experiences on reaching consensus on river restoration good practices, as a means to support delivery of European policy goals.” It was facilitated by the Environment Agency (England and Wales), the Government Service for Land and Water Management (DLG, the Netherlands), The River Restoration Centre (UK), Wetlands International, CIRF (Italy) and SYKE (Finland) as part of the ongoing RESTORE partnership.
Take 15 minutes for the LANDLIFE Project!
16 January 2012A LIFE project is asking for your help in gaining better understanding about EU land use and ‘land stewardship’.
All that’s required is a few minutes of your time to complete an online questionnaire. Your answers will be used to help build a baseline of information about the concept of EU land stewardship.
Don’t worry if the terminology and concept are new to you because the aim of the survey is to find out what type of information and awareness raising actions are needed to promote land stewardship as an empowerment tool for involving stakeholders in biodiversity conservation.
HAPPYFISH project wins Estonian Environmental Prize
12 January 2012The LIFE+ Nature project, ‘HAPPYFISH’, has been awarded the 2011 Estonian Environmental Prize, which is given to outstanding projects, campaigns or events in the fields of environmental protection, information dissemination and awareness-raising. “The project ‘Happyfish’ is an excellent example of how a bright idea can be combined with innovation and care for old traditions and important natural values,” said Keit Pentus, the Estonian environment minister, on announcing the winners.
The project – ‘Saving life in meanders and oxbow lakes of Emajõgi River on Alam-Pedja NATURA 2000 area’ (‘Happyfish’ LIFE07 NAT/EE/000120) – is being implemented by the NGO Estonian Wildlife.
New publication out! Best LIFE-Nature Projects 2010
15 December 2011The EU Member States represented on the LIFE Committee and the European Commission's LIFE Nature Unit have announced the Best LIFE Nature Projects 2010. The 18 projects selected represent the most successful of the recently completed LIFE Nature projects, in terms of best practices and/or demonstration actions on nature conservation and the implementation of the Habitats and Birds Directives.
Proposals for the new 2014-2020 LIFE Programme regulation released!
12 December 2011News about LIFE’s successor has been released from the European Commission which confirms a proposed LIFE budget of €3.2 billion over the 2014-2020 financial period. The new draft regulation refers to a LIFE Programme for the Environment and Climate Action and has been designed to build on the success of the existing LIFE+ Programme. The proposals introduce innovations to strengthen LIFE’s structure, enhance its strategic role and simplify operations through greater flexibility.
Hautes Fagnes status renewed thanks to LIFE project
05 December 2011The Council of Europe has renewed the European Diploma of the Hautes Fagnes natural reserve in Belgium for a further ten years in recognition of the preservation work carried out in the area, in particular the actions taken by the LIFE project, ‘PLTHautes-Fagnes – Rehabilitation of heaths and mires on the Hautes-Fagnes Plateau’ (LIFE06 NAT/B/000091).
The European Diploma of Protected Areas was created in 1965 and is awarded to protected areas for their outstanding scientific, cultural or aesthetic qualities. Areas must also be subject to suitable conservation schemes. In 1966 the Hautes Fagnes became one of the first areas to receive the diploma, which has subsequently been renewed every five years.
Five EU municipalities acknowledged for their commitment to biodiversity conservation
02 December 2011LIFE’s Capitals of Biodiversity project (LIFE07 ENV/D/000224) held a high profile award ceremony in Brussels on December 24th. The LIFE project, which has successfully encouraged European municipalities to “lead the way in local biodiversity protection”, awarded five prizes that were presented by Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment.
Award winning municipalities from Hungary (Szentes), Slovakia (Kremnica), Spain (Puebla de Sanabria), France (Montpellier) and Germany (Hannover) were praised by the Commissioner for their commitment and contributions to help meet EU 2020 biodiversity targets.
Commission officials and NGOs get their hands dirty for nature
30 November 2011European Commission representatives, including many members of the LIFE Nature Unit, recently gathered at the ‘Plateau de la Foresterie’ Natura 2000 site in Brussels, alongside European environmental NGO representatives, to become green volunteers for a day.
The event was organised by the EUROPARC Federation, the voice of Europe’s protected natural areas, to mark the European Year of Volunteering and as part of the EU’s Lifelong Learning project, ‘Volunteer Management in European Parks’.
Environment: Major expansion of Europe's protected natural areas
22 November 2011Natura 2000, the EU's network of protected areas, has undergone a significant expansion. Nearly 18.800 square kilometres have been added, including a major addition of marine areas covering 17.000 square kilometres which will increase protection for many endangered marine species. The network now covers almost 18% of the EU's landmass and more than 145.000 km² of its seas. The main countries involved in this latest expansion are the UK, France, Belgium, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary, Lithuania and Italy. Natura 2000 is the centrepiece of Europe's battle to halt biodiversity loss and safeguard ecosystem services.
EU focus on waste reduction
18 November 2011The European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) will run for the third time between 19 and 27 November 2011. The week, which is supported by of the LIFE+ Programme, aims to inform European citizens about the simple actions that they can take in their everyday lives to reduce waste.
A total of 7035 EWWR actions are being implemented in 2011, a significant increase on 4346 actions in 2010. The week will employ 34 organisers in 20 countries to mobilise stakeholders and validate their actions. (To view the list of organisers and actions, visit the EWWR website.
Giant nets capture new life on UK moor
17 November 2011MoorLIFE, one of the largest conservation projects in the UK, has started spreading the target 33 km of geo-textile netting on to the moor surface of Bleaklow to help reduce erosion of the peat and establish a new layer of vegetation. The Bleaklow conservation work site, which stretches from Sheffield and Manchester, is clearly visible to air passengers flying in and out of local airports.
Bio-degradeable geo-textiles, which look like large fishing nets, are being lifted by helicopter in bales on to selected areas of bare peat on the moor. It is then spread by local contractors and pegged on to bare-sided haggs and groughs (deep eroded channels carved into the peat) to reduce erosion and trap sown seed to help increase vegetation on these steep-sided areas.
Schoolchildren complete the mural of Mulkear
15 November 2011A brightly coloured mural illustrating the work of MulkearLIFE, a river restoration project being carried out in County Limerick in Ireland, was completed recently by students of Lios Na Groi, National School, Lisnagry. The children painted in pictures of sea lamprey, atlantic salmon and otter, which have benefited from the project's actions to restore damaged habitats.
The original sketches were produced by mural artist, Neil O' Dwyer, and the children's work added great vitality to the overall composition. The children were congratulated by members of the Annacotty Tidy Town Committee including committee chairperson, Yvonne Fogarty who warmly thanked all the children.
Houting conference provides networking know-how for stream restoration
04 November 2011The LIFE Nature Houting project (LIFE05 NAT/DK/000153) staged a successful international conference focusing on the restoration of rivers and streams last month. Some 90 participants attended the event at Tønder in Denmark from 03 to 05 October 2011. The conference included a keynote presentation by the coordinators of the Danish project and excursions to several of the sites restored for the benefit of the houting (Coregonus oxyrhynchus), a highly endangered white fish whose reproductive range is limited to six river systems in Denmark.
The return of the griffon vulture celebrated in Bulgaria
25 October 2011The Second National Vulture Festival, which was held in 14 October, 2011 in Sliven, Bulgaria, was another huge success. Organised by ‘the Vultures Return in Bulgaria’ (LIFE08 NAT/BG/278) project, the event has become an essential part of the campaign to raise awareness about the need to safeguard this endangered bird of prey.
The festival attracted students from six schools and kindergartens from Sliven and neighbouring towns, such as Roza and Drazhevo, as well as many parents, passers-by and vulture lovers from all over the country. The children drew vultures from realistic dummies, and sang and danced to celebrate the return of these magnificent birds to Sliven. (The birds are returning to sites where they haven’t been seen for more than 50 years!)
Commissioner Potočnik to announce more Capitals of Biodiversity
20 October 2011The LIFE+ Environment Capital of Biodiversity project (LIFE07 ENV/D/000224) will announce the names of the second group of cities to be made "European Capitals of Biodiversity" at an event in Brussels next month.
The European Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potočnik, will present the European Capitals of Biodiversity 2011 awards at ICLEI's 10th "Breakfast at Sustainability's (B@S) event on Thursday 24 November 2011, in the Liaison Office of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozen, South Tyrol (Italy) in Brussels. More than 500 municipalities from France, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain participated in the contest, which has been led by the LIFE project beneficiary Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V.
The first four "Capitals of Biodiversity" were named in 2010 as Grande Sythe in France, Tata in Hungary, El Real Sitio de San Ildefonso in Spain and Želiezovce in Slovakia.
New nature conservation benefits flow from Prespa basin agreement in the Balkans
14 October 2011An agreement last week by the EU has opened the door for a new integrated management approach to nature conservation in the Prespa basin. Situated on the borders between Greece, Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, this 2500 km2 basin includes wetlands designated as Ramsar Sites. The area is especially important for water birds, notably the largest breeding colony of Dalmatian pelicans in the world and eight unique fish species also depend on the basin's aquatic habitat. These endemic fish are found only in the Prespa basin and nowhere else in the world. LIFE project support has been involved in helping set up sustainable fishery methods in the Prespa basin to conserve these fish which are protected by EU law.
Workshop reveals progress of innovative project to reuse port sediment
12 October 2011The LIFE+ ENV project SEDI.PORT.SIL (LIFE09 ENV/IT/000158), has staged the first of two interim workshops as part of its aim to demonstrate an integrated approach to the sustainable management of sediment dredged from ports.
The workshop, held in Rome, Italy on 20 September, provided an opportunity to update stakeholders and other interested parties on the progress of activities and experiments designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of physical-chemical and organic techniques to treat sediments and to develop systems to extract silicon from the sediments dredged from the port of Ravenna, with the aim of re-using them.
Help LIFE celebrate its 20th anniversary!
11 October 2011The LIFE programme celebrates its 20th anniversary in May 2012. To mark this important milestone in the history of the EU's financial instrument for the environment, the LIFE unit invites you to take part in not one but two special competitions.
LIFE has generated 20 years' worth of fantastic photography from projects all over the EU and beyond. Millions of words have also been written about the thousands of excellent projects that LIFE has co-funded over the last two decades. In recognition of this fact and to mark the 20 years of the programme, the LIFE unit is organising a photo competition and a 20 words competition open to all LIFE projects past or present. The closing date for both competitions is 15 DECEMBER 2011.
EWWR plans pan-European 'clean-up day'
10 October 2011The 3rd European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) - 19-27 November 2011 - is set to involve citizens from across Europe in actions based around four key issues: reducing paper waste; reducing food waste, reducing excessive packaging; and encouraging the repair and/or reuse of 'waste' products and materials.
Following on from the success of the 'BatucaMob' that took place simultaneously across 10 countries to launch the 2nd EWWR, citizens and organisations are being encouraged to participate in another common action to underline the pan-European aspect of the Week - a 'clean-up day'. The aim of the day will be for participants to collect and measure the amount of waste illegally dumped in their area, particularly in those of natural beauty such as forests, beaches and mountains.
MoorLIFE project is bringing life back to the bogs
06 October 2011Professor Sir John Lawton, an eminent British ecologist who is currently advising the UK government on its approach to the natural environment, recently visited the UK MoorLIFE project. On a drizzly day, Sir Lawton was shown the restoration works that have been carried out on Black Hill, one of the landmark summits in the Pennines. The ongoing 'MoorLIFE: Active blanket bog restoration in the South Pennine Moors' (LIFE08 NAT/UK/000202) project is one of the biggest moorland conservation initiatives in Europe.
Professor Lawton described the conservation efforts as absolutely extraordinary, a win-win situation four times over. "You win in terms of water quality, you win on carbon, you win on landscape, and you win on wildlife conservation," he said.
Results of invertebrates platform meeting now available
05 October 2011 The conclusions of the LIFE Platform Meeting on terrestrial invertebrates are now available to download by clicking on the link below. The meeting, hosted by Natural England (and organised by the Astrale monitoring team), attracted more than 30 delegates to Newquay, Cornwall in June. The goal was to bring together invertebrate conservation practitioners from across Europe to discuss some of the most important issues regarding the conservation of these species - from butterflies to bees, saproxylic beetles to dragonflies.
Highlighting the innovation and replicability of Italian LIFE Environment projects
04 October 2011A new publication from the Italian Ministry of the Environment, and the protection of Land and Sea, provides an in-depth look at the impact of the LIFE Environment programme for the period of LIFE II and III (1996-2006). The brochure, Il successo del Programma LIFE Ambiente in Italia: esempi di soulzioni innovative replicabili a livello nazionale ("The success of the LIFE Environment Programme in Italy: examples of innovative solutions replicated at national level"), is divided into four sections: The first section of the publication summarises what the LIFE Environment programme does, outlines the results obtained by LIFE Environment in Italy, explains the role of the National Contact Point, highlights Italian LIFE Environment projects that have been awarded 'Best' project status by the European Commission and introduces LIFE+.
Beach campaign primes the public about posidonia residues
23 September 2011Three municipalities in southern Italy have partnered with the LIFE Environment project, P.R.I.M.E. – Posidonia Residues Integrated Management for Eco-Sustainability (LIFE09 ENV/IT/000061) – to raise public awareness of the problems linked to the management of Posidonia oceanica residues on beaches. Every year coastal communities in Puglia must collect and send to landfill thousands of tonnes of this foul-smelling type of seagrass, a costly process that also requires the use of heavy machinery, with potentially adverse environmental impacts.
In July and August, the municipalities of Mola di Bari (Bari), Ugento (Lecce) and Torre Canne (Brindisi), in collaboration with the environmental association, Legambiente, each staged one-day events on selected beaches to highlight the work of the P.R.I.M.E. LIFE project. The aim of the project is to show how it is possible to reduce the environmental impact and disposal costs related to the removal of beached residues, principally through the composting and reuse of the collected biomass.
New publication out! Best LIFE Environment Projects 2010
21 September 2011The EU Member States represented on the LIFE Committee and the European Commission's LIFE Unit have announced the Best LIFE Environment Projects 2010. The results of the selection, as approved by the LIFE Committee members in the spring of 2011, are the 13 projects featured in this publication. These projects represent the most recent successful LIFE Environment projects in terms of their contribution to immediate and long-term environmental, economic and social improvements; their degree of innovation and transferability; their relevance to policy; and their cost-effectiveness.
Greater expectations for LIFE+ 2011 European Week for Waste Reduction
09 September 2011Following growing success in 2009 and 2010, the third and final phase of the LIFE+ Information & Communication campaign, the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR), will take place on 19-27 November 2011. The 2011 ‘Week’ will involve public authorities and a wide variety of project sponsors (government, communities, school groups or NGOs) from across the EU. With 524 kg of municipal waste generated on average per person in Europe (2008 Eurostat), the aim is to raise awareness of ways of reducing waste and to promote changes in production and consumption patterns.
During last year’s campaign, over 4 300 awareness raising actions were successfully implemented in 24 EU Member States.
Lower Rhine area conservation boosts bird populations
31 August 2011On the International Day of Biodiversity, 22 May, Dr Angelica Schwall-Düren, minister for European affairs in the Northrhine-Westphalian government, and Josef Tumbrinck, president of the local NABU, a nature protection society in the Lower Rhine region, along with other NABU representatives, visited the successful ongoing nature conservation project for wetland bird species in the Hetter.
The area of Hetter-Millinger Bruch, a Special Area of Conservation and part of the Lower Rhine Special Protection Area, is the site of a LIFE Nature project (LIFE07 NAT/D/000232) carried out by NABU.
New video celebrates Hungarian meadow viper births
10 August 2011The LIFE Nature CONVIPURSRAK project in Hungary (LIFE07 NAT/HU/000322) has released a new English-subtitled video to celebrate the success of its ex-situ conservation efforts. The video, which can be viewed online, explains how the project's LIFE co-funded conservation centre (opened in 2004 and previously supported by LIFE04 NAT/HU/000116) has enabled captive breeding and reintroduction of the Hungarian meadow viper (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis), one of the EU's most endangered snakes (only 500 specimens exist in the wild). Most interestingly for a lay audience, the video includes footage of the birth of the vipers, a rarely seen event.
Dutch ambassador releases griffon vulture in Bulgaria
05 August 2011Karel van Kesteren, the Dutch ambassador to Bulgaria, has donated 500 Bulgarian lev to name and release a griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus). The bird, which was one of two transported from the Dutch Zoo of Amersfoort, was released as part of the project, ‘Vultures Return in Bulgaria’ (LIFE08 NAT/BG/000278). The two-year old vulture now bears the name Giertje (little vulture).
Mr Kesteren visited the Wildlife Rescue Centre at Green Balkans – Stara Zagora to see where the bird was accommodated before its release. The move is part of a wide-scale public campaign to fit extra transmitters to birds and allow researchers to track their adaptation into the wild. The releasing ceremony was also attended by the director of the Sinite kamani Nature Park and the district governor of Sliven.
Red kite reintroduced to Tuscany
02 August 2011The LIFE project, ‘Save the Flyers’ (LIFE08 NAT/IT/000332), has successfully reintroduced red kites (milvus milvus) in Tuscany. The programme, which was carried out by the local administration Comunità Montana Amiata Grossetano, entailed relocating 64 individuals from Corsica and the Canton of Fribourg (Switzerland) into the Upper Albegna Valley, southern Tuscany.
The release area, located in the southernmost part of the SCI and SPA “Monte Labbro e Alta Valle dell’Albegna”, is a hilly landscape with a mixture of woodlands, pastures and arable lands, and is crossed by the Albegna river; it’s a very suitable habitat for red kites, offering feeding opportunities and nesting sites, as proved by a feasibility plan drawn up in 2006 and updated in 2010.
Web users witness first online birth of a Cory's Shearwater chick
29 July 2011The LIFE project "Safe Islands for Seabirds" (LIFE07 NAT/P/000649) has achieved a world first. For the first time ever, Internet users have been able to witness the hatching of an egg of the endangered bird species, Cory's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea).
As part of the LIFE project, a webcam was set up in May at a nesting site on the small island of Corvo in the Azores archipelago to provide live, round-the-clock coverage on a dedicated website during the breeding season. Internet users have been able to follow the progress of a Cory's shearwater egg from the moment it was laid on 01 June, culminating in the hatching of the egg on 24 July. The birth of the chick has been widely covered in the Portuguese media.
LIFE Environment conference points the way forward
28 July 2011The LIFE conference – LIFE for Environment: Success Stories and Future Challenges – which was held in Brussels, 25-26 May of this year, provided an opportunity for stakeholders of the programme and decision-makers in the EU institutions to discuss the future of the LIFE programme at a time when EU budgets for the years to come are being determined.
The conference resulted in several key recommendations, including retaining the bottom-up approach to project selection through calls for proposals.
PRIME beach campaign on Posidonia management
27 July 2011The PRIME project – ‘Posidonia Residues Integrated Management for Eco-sustainability’ (LIFE09 ENV/IT/000061) – which is aiming to develop the reuse of Neptune grass/Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) residues, is organising a special summer beach campaign.
It is holding awareness raising campaigns for the general public on beaches in the Region of Puglia. Visitors are invited to learn about the management of beached Neptune grass and gadgets related to the project are being handed out.
Commission to provide €244 million for 183 new LIFE+ projects
19 July 2011The European Commission has approved funding for 183 new projects under the fourth call for the LIFE+ programme (2007-2013). The projects are from across the EU and cover actions in the fields of nature conservation, environmental policy, and information and communication. Overall, they represent a total investment of €530 million, of which the EU will provide €244million.
Read the full press release and a summary of the project by country.
- More details on each of the new Nature & Biodiversity projects
- More details on each of the new Environment Policy & Governance projects
- More details on each of the new Information & Communication projects
It is also possible to contact the relevant national authorities.
Biofuel LIFE project wins Greek innovation prize
11 July 2011The Greek BIOFUELS-2G (LIFE08 ENV/GR/000569) project, which demonstrated an innovative technology of producing biodiesel-2G, won second prize at ‘Greece Innovates’, a competition organised by Eurobank and the Hellenic Bureau of Industry.
The organisers singled out the project for special commendation among 300 proposals at an awards ceremony held on 5 July and attended by around 1500. ‘Greece Innovates’ aims to promote applied research products and services that contribute to improving daily life, sustainable development and strengthening the economy.
New publication! LIFE preventing species extinction: Safeguarding endangered flora and fauna through ex-situ conservation
04 July 2011Most LIFE Nature projects focus on conservation action 'in-situ', i.e. within the natural habitat of a particular threatened species. This may not be enough to help the most vulnerable species, however, in which case 'ex-situ' conservation measures are required to address the threat of extinction.
The LIFE programme has a distinguished track record of funding crucial ex-situ interventions targeting a wide range of vulnerable species, ranging from flagship species such as the brown bear and golden eagle, to lesser-known but equally important fish, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians and plants. LIFE-funded actions to support habitats ex-situ have contributed to enhancing biodiversity, supporting the EU's policy goals.
British weather can't dampen LIFE Platform Meeting
21 June 2011The latest LIFE Platform Meeting – on terrestrial invertebrates – took place last week in Newquay, Cornwall (UK). The two-day meeting (June 15-16) provided an opportunity for members of the LIFE Nature unit, project beneficiaries and other experts in invertebrate conservation to discuss some of the key issues regarding the conservation of these species. As well as sharing the experience of completed and ongoing LIFE projects, attendees considered how the LIFE programme can continue to support projects that enhance the conservation status of terrestrial invertebrates, an important and often overlooked area of nature conservancy.
LIFE celebrates another year of success
31 May 2011The LIFE family came together in Brussels last Thursday – 25 May – for the LIFE Nature and LIFE Environment Awards 2010, a celebration of the 'Best' and the 'Best of the Best' projects co-funded by the LIFE programme that were completed in 2010.
Fittingly, the LIFE Nature Awards 2010 was held alongside the events of Green Week in the European Commission's Charlemagne Building: as Head of Unit – LIFE Nature, Angelo Salsi, reminded the audience, Green Week was inspired by the “LIFE Week” events of 1999, another example of the demonstration value of LIFE.
Environment: major support for continued specific EU funding tool for the environment and climate action
31 May 2011 Close to 85.8% of respondents to a recent public consultation on the future of LIFE+, the European Commission's environmental funding tool, consider that there is a need for a specific EU financial instrument for environment and climate action. A majority of 54.6% also think that the budget for the instrument should be increased. In the run-up to the next multiannual financial framework 2014-2020, the results of this consultation will feed into an evaluation of the need for a specific environmental and climate action programme in the EU's budget.
As part of ongoing reflections on a financial successor for LIFE+, stakeholders have been widely consulted over the past months. Respondents have expressed their views on the need for a specific financial instrument for the environment and climate action, on ways to boost its added value, and on the architecture of such an instrument in the next programming period.
PISCES film released
30 May 2011The PISCES LIFE project has produced a promotional film that explains how the project will be a powerful mechanism for change in the Celtic Sea.
The film highlights the competing interests of users of the sea and the impacts of their actions. It presents the benefits of communication among PISCES stakeholders, the production of a code of conduct and the drawing up of guidelines for how the whole ecosystem can be managed in the future.
The film is the first in a series of “Reflections on Change” videos, which will be showcased at the June workshop in Brittany. The films will be available afterwards to view on the project website (http://projectpisces.eu).
Visit to Biomares project spreads message
24 May 2011The European Journalism Centre recently organised a four-day visit to the Biomares (LIFE06 NAT/P/000192) LIFE project in Portugal. The winners of the TH!NK5:Water, an international blogging competition, as well as journalists and photographers had the opportunity to learn about the project, which is aiming to restore the biodiversity of the Professor Luiz Saldanha Marine Park inside the Arrábida Natural Park.
Biomares is also demonstrating how to combine nautical recreational activities with the conservation of EU protected habitats, ‘reefs’ and ‘sandbanks permanently underwater in shallow seawaters’.
LIFE 'live' from European Parliament
23 May 2011A European Commission conference, “LIFE for our Environment: Success Stories and Future Challenges”, has been organised to provide an opportunity to exchange experiences on the implementation of LIFE Environment. The conference will be broadcast live from the European Parliament on 25 May (14:00-19:00); and on the 26 May (09:00-18:00).
Watch the exclusive European Commission event. (Please note, this link will be active 30 minutes before the start of the conference).
New publication: LIFE and resource efficiency
17 May 2011The EU’s Europe 2020 Strategy for growth sets the priority of moving to a more resource efficient, green and competitive economy. The LIFE programme has a long track record of innovative approaches for building a resource efficient Europe.
This LIFE Focus publication aims to showcase how LIFE funding has generated a vast portfolio of know-how for a diverse range of beneficiaries and sectors: from LIFE Environment projects that have helped improve the resource efficiency of production processes to products that incorporate eco-design principles throughout their lifecycle. Other exemplary projects highlight approaches that can save water, reduce the negative impacts of transport, agriculture, fisheries and the food and beverage sector and lead to more energy-efficient buildings.
2010 'Best of the Best' LIFE Project Awards
13 May 2011The winners of the 2010 ‘Best of the Best’ LIFE Nature and LIFE Environment projects have been selected and will be presented at two separate awards’ ceremonies to be held in May in Brussels: at the conference ‘LIFE for our Environment: Success Stories and Future challenges’ (LIFE Environment projects); and during this year’s EU Green Week (LIFE Nature projects).
The LIFE Environment Awards 2010 will be presented by Hervé Martin, Head of the LIFE Environment Unit, on 25 May at 17.45 - 18.45, in the ‘Spinelli Building’ (A3E.2) of the European Parliament. Note: Registration is now closed for this Green Week side event.
The LIFE Nature Awards 2010 will be presented by Angelo Salsi, Head of the LIFE Nature Unit, on 25 May at 14.30 – 16.30, in the ‘Salon Rouge’ of the Charlemagne Building, Rue de la Loi 170, B-1000 Brussels. Note: Green Week Registration is required.
Portuguese project demonstrates informatics tool for textile industry at workshop
12 May 2011 The project BATinLoko, which is aiming to define best environmental performance indicators for the textile and clothing sector in Portugal, held a workshop for industry representatives at Minho University in Portugal on 4 May.
At this workshop the informatics tool developed by the project and an economic model for BAT evaluation were presented to the textile sector. This tool helps simulate BAT implementation by calculating the environmental and economic benefits. After the workshop, textile companies took part in a training session in order to obtain industry feedback on the tool.
View LIFE project videos
04 May 2011 View the fascinating new selection of LIFE project videos from the revamped online 'LIFE Video Player' displaying over 150 clips of LIFE and LIFE+ projects. Each of the LIFE programme's nature, biodiversity and environment themes is further divided by sub-categories to enable a quick search for information on individual categories.
Under the LIFE Nature & Biodiversity theme, for example, search for LIFE projects covering 'Biodiversity issues', "Habitats', or 'Species'. And for LIFE Environment Policy & Governance projects, there are 10 sub-categories of projects from 'Air & Noise', 'Information - Communication', to 'Water' and 'Waste'.
LIFE water project wins "Neptun" award
19 April 2011The LIFE+ project, "Living space in the estuary stretch of the river Traisen" (LIFE07/NAT/A/000012) was the winner of the Grand Prize at this year’s Neptun Water Awards.
Established in 1999 by the Austrian Government, in partnership with the country’s main water federations, the Neptun Water Prize (Neptun Wasserpreis) is awarded every 2 years to selected water projects in different categories. In 2011, the award categories included: Water Protection, Water World, Water Communication and Water Creativity, as well as the special public's award for Water Perception. The Grand Prize is awarded to the best overall project.
LIFE platform meeting aims to strengthen invertebrate conservation
15-16 June 2011, Cornwall, United Kingdom
15 April 2011The next LIFE Nature platform meeting will promote the exchange of experience and networking between some 50 experts on invertebrate conservation from across the EU. Scheduled for June 15-16, the event will take place in Cornwall, UK, and will consist of project presentations and group discussions facilitated by the event organiser, Natural England - a non-departmental public body of the UK government responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment is protected and improved.
In addition to LIFE project participants from across the EU, the event will also be attended by experts from outside of the LIFE community, who will bring fresh ideas and perspectives, particularly on how the inclusion of IUCN Red List 'endangered or worse' species as eligible for funding through the LIFE Biodiversity funding stream can help target the conservation of invertebrates.
EWWR 2010 awards ceremony held in Brussels
01 April 2011The ‘EWWR – European Week of Waste Reduction’ project (LIFE07 INF/F/000185) recently held an awards ceremony for the 2010 EWWR in Brussels. Organised by Bruxelles Environnement/Leefmilieu Brussel (IBGE/BIM) on 28 March, the event recognised the most outstanding awareness raising actions implemented during the 2010 EWWR in each of the five project categories: administration and public authority; associations and NGO; business and industry; educational establishment and other.
From 20-28 November of last year, a total of 4,346 EWWR actions took place in 24 countries throughout Europe and beyond with the common aim of promoting waste reduction.
LIFE for our environment: success stories and future challenges
25-26 May 2011, Brussels, Belgium
31 March 2011The twentieth anniversary of the LIFE programme's Environment Policy and Governance component provides an opportune moment to take stock of its contribution to improving the environment in the EU and to consider future challenges.
On the 25-26 May, the European Commission will organise a two-day conference to assess the contribution of LIFE's Environment Policy and Governance component to the implementation and updating of EU environment policy.
Illegal poisoning in Spain: three convicted
22 March 2011Three people caught placing poison baits intended for protected birds of prey have been sentenced to a year and four months prison and fined more than €24 300.
The reduction in illegal poison incidents affecting protected in Spain is the main aim of the ongoing VENENO NO project (LIFE08 NAT/E/000062). The convictions represent a major step in the successful implementation of a national strategy against the use of poisoned bait, which the project is helping draw up. The sentences also demonstrate the effectiveness of the regional patrols and action plans that the project is aiming to establish.
Helicopters play a vital role in the conservation of Moorland resources
18 March 2011UK LIFE project MoorLIFE (LIFE08 NAT/UK/00202) is about to get underway on the moors of the Peak District National Park and South Pennine region and helicopters will play a key role in supporting the work in one of the UK's most inaccessible workplaces!
Work over the next five years by the Moors for the Future Partnership will begin the process of returning 1.6 square kilometres (the equivalent of 320 soccer pitches) of badly damaged peat moorland to a healthy condition and will protect a much larger area.
Monk seal pup rescued
15 March 2011 A two-month-old monk seal pup, which had become separated from his mother and was full of internal parasites, has been rescued by the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk (MOm).
The pup is one of only 600 individuals of this endangered seal species – it is listed in Annex II and IV of the Habitats directive – that remain in the wild. The research team, which discovered the seal while monitoring a colony on an island in the south-western Aegean Sea, plans to re-release the pup, named Nireas, following his full recovery.
MOm has been the beneficiary of several LIFE projects, which have helped create a monitoring network to rescue seals in difficulty.
LIFE project discovers new soft coral species in the Mediterranean
14 March 2011The LIFE+ project INDEMARES - Inventory and designation of marine Natura 2000 areas in the Spanish sea (LIFE07 NAT/E/000732) - has made the fascinating discovery of a new species of soft coral in the Menorca Channel. The species has been named Nidalia indemares in honour of the project.
As part of its work to increase knowledge and understanding of the marine ecosystems around Spain, the project conducted a survey of the Menorca Channel seabed - located between the Spanish islands of Mallorca and Menorca. It unexpectedly discovered the presence of the Nidalia genus of soft coral, including the one totally new species.
LIFE+ 2011 call: Frequently Asked Questions online
08 March 2011 A first series of Frequently Asked Questions have been published as a downloadable PDF on the FAQ page in our funding section. All applicants wishing to submit a LIFE+ 2011 proposal are kindly reminded to consult the FAQs section on a regular basis throughout the preparation period, or to subcribe to our RSS, where new versions will be announced as they become available.
Help sought addressing environmental impacts from car air conditioning systems
03 March2011Up to 20% of car emissions can be associated with the vehicles' air conditioning (AC) system. These AC systems are an increasingly common feature of modern car fleets and not only do they consume large amounts of energy but they also often rely on the chemical refrigerant R134a (Tetra-fluorineethane), which is a powerful greenhouse gas (estimated as being more than 1400 times as harmful as CO2). Vehicles can release large amounts of R134a as a result of inadequate maintenance and accidents.
The new call 2011 is now open!
28 February 2011The fifth LIFE+ call for proposals was published on 26 February 2011, with up to €267 million available for co-financing of projects under three headings: nature and biodiversity; environment policy and governance; and information and communication.
Project proposals should be sent to the relevant national authority no later than 18 July, 2011. National authorities will then send received proposals to the European Commission by 9 September, 2011. The Commission will check the outline projects against the LIFE+ eligibility criteria and will assess proposals on the basis of the LIFE+ selection and award criteria.
LIFE lynx project breaks important new ground
18 February 2011 The Spanish project ‘Conservation and reintroduction of the Iberian lynx in Andalucía’ (LIFE06 NAT/E/000209) has released its first captively bred lynx into the Guarrizas area near Jaen. This marks a significant achievement for the captive breeding programme, but also in the recolonisation of areas deserted by the world’s most endangered feline.
The two females - Grazalema y Granadilla - were born in the project’s captive breeding centre La Olivilla only last year and have been in a pre-release enclosure since December 2010. The project team have closely monitored their acclimatisation to this semi-wild environment and gradually reduced their active support to the animals.
Green Footprint selected as project of the month
Photo: Mondial Suole
17 February 2011 The Italian LIFE National Contact Point has selected the project Green Footprint (LIFE07 ENV/IT/000412) as its “project of the month”.
The project, ‘Demonstrating the introduction of novel renewable Polyurethane materials for high quality, top design and sustainable shoes’, has been very successful in developing a novel polyurethane material for the production of shoe soles.
The beneficiary, Dow Chemical Company, at its laboratories in Correggio, Emilia-Romagna, demonstrated the possibility of producing a polyurethane system containing up to 35% in weight of renewable non fossil material.
European stakeholders meet in Brussels to discuss future of LIFE
03 February 2011A recent meeting of key European stakeholders in Brussels yielded much useful feedback on the European Commission’s orientations or ideas for the successor future of the LIFE programme and the direction of future EU environmental funding.
The ‘Stakeholders consultation on the future instrument for environment and climate change (future of LIFE)’, which was held on 28 January at the Maison des Associations Internationales, in Brussels brought together more than 130 participants, representing key environmental stakeholder groups, including national and regional governments, NGOs, industry associations and previous LIFE beneficiaries in a series of presentations and working group sessions.
'LIFE and European forests' in Polish
01 February 2011Evidence of the continuing dissemination value and interest of LIFE projects by sector, is provided by a new publication, a Polish version of the LIFE Focus publication, “LIFE and European forests”.
The original publication was published in English in 2006. This new publication, “LIFE - ekosystemy leśne" is a translated version of the original, but with some minor updates concerning the LIFE programme, now LIFE+. Together with the English version, an electronic version can be downloaded from the ‘publications’ section of the LIFE website.
UK media excited by LIFE funding
27 January 2011 LIFE funding to help re-establish a functional breeding colony of the great bustard (Otis tarda) in the UK (LIFE09 NAT/UK/000020) has attracted significant media attention in the country. Leading national radio stations and newspapers have covered the news that an existing 10-year programme authorised by the UK government to reintroduce the globally threatened species is to benefit from EUR 1.6 million of LIFE money over the next five years.
Media excitement comes from the fact that the LIFE project will substantially build on recent successes of the programme to reintroduce this iconic bird. It is the world’s heaviest flying bird - males can reach 20kg, with a wingspan of 2.4m - and was once common in the grasslands of Salisbury Plain in southern central England. However, hunters and egg collectors drove the bird into extinction in the UK in the 1830s. It is now a globally threatened species listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive.
LIFE project launches UK's first green roof code
25 January 2011The GRACC (Green roofs against climate change) LIFE project (LIFE07 ENV/UK/000936) recently launched the GRO Green Roof Code, which provides practical guidance on green roof best practice in the UK.
Green roofs have become a more common feature in towns and cities in recent years, but maximum environmental benefits have not always been realised due to a lack of specific guidelines. In response to this, the Green Roof Organisation (GRO), an industry partnership that implemented the project, has developed and launched a UK code of best practice.
French Natura 2000 wins award
19 January 2011The Natura 2000 site targeted by the LIFE project, ‘Rhône-Alpes Region. Rhône-Alpes - Nature and territories in the Rhône-Alpes Region’ (LIFE04 NAT/FR/000079), has been awarded a ‘Grand Prix’ by the French national forestry department, l'Office national des forêts (ONF)
The project aimed to integrate nature conservation and Natura 2000 into existing rural development policies related to pastoralism, forestry, water resource management and tourism in the Rhône-Alpes Region.
Iberian Imperial Eagle: a LIFE success story
12 January 2011 Thanks to targeted strategic support from the LIFE programme, the Iberian imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) population has increased six-fold in the past 15 years. This has seen numbers of the species increase from a vulnerable 50 reproductive pairs in 1995 to a much more stable 300 such pairs in the Iberian peninsula today.
LIFE has funded since 1992 a three-phase action programme for the conservation of the Iberian imperial eagle, with separate but connected projects taking place simultaneously in Castilla y Leon, Castilla La Mancha, Extremadura, Andalucia and Madrid. In total, LIFE has invested more than 10 million Euros into conservation on the Iberian imperial eagle.
Europe's biodiversity in pictures - Living Parks: 100 Years of National Parks in Europe
17 December 2010 Europe's national parks are part of the continent's complex system of protected areas. The reason for their creation, their purpose and history, their management, size and the species that they protect may differ — yet, for the past 100 years, they have been reservoirs of biodiversity; sources of water, cultural and economic assets; and places of recreation and spiritual replenishment. They all face similar challenges in their management today but remain the living repositories of Europe's natural and cultural heritage for future generations.
LIFE+ 'European Week for Waste Reduction' (2010): over 4300 actions
15 December 2010 As the year draws to a close, the LIFE+ Information & Communication project, the “European Week for Waste Reduction – EWWR” (LIFE07 INF/F/000185), reports that over 4300 waste prevention actions have been implemented across the EU.
A host of different EWWR activities were carried out, on 20-28 November 2010, in 23 EU countries – from simple emails listing waste prevention tips, to exhibitions, artwork and other competitions. The aim was to draw people’s attention (on the street, at school, work or in the supermarket etc), and make them think about waste prevention and alter their behaviour.
Invasive Species Bulletin: Angelo Salsi affirms LIFE+ support for IAS
13 December 2010 Angelo Salsi, Head of the European Commission DG Environment’s LIFE Nature Unit, highlights the relevance of the LIFE+ funding tool for projects targeting invasive species management in Europe – in the latest issue of the newsletter of the IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group.
In an interview (see page 64) in “Aliens: the Invasive Species Bulletin”, Mr Salsi talks to newsletter co-editor Riccardo Scalera, programme officer of the ISSG, about the relation between LIFE+ and invasive alien species (IAS).
Public consultation on the future EU co-financing of Natura 2000 Network
December 2010- February 2011The European Commission plans to issue a new Communication on financing Natura 2000, foreseen for mid 2011, in collaboration with Member States, to assess whether the integration approach to financing NATURA 2000 has been adequate for the effective implementation of the network. As an essential input to this process, the Commission has just launched an online public consultation to gather the views of different stakeholders aiming to identify ways of enhancing the success of financing Natura 2000.
Information Sessions on the LIFE+ Programme 2011 Call for Proposals
08 December 2010The European Commission will publish the fifth Call for Proposals under the LIFE+ Programme in February 2011, with up to €265.360 million available across the EU for co-financing projects under three headings: nature and biodiversity; environment policy and governance; and information and communication.
Between 28.02.2011 and 08.04.2011, the European Commission, in conjunction with STELLA Consulting and MWH, will organise an Information Session on the LIFE+ Programme in each EU Member State.
Public consultation on the future EU financial instrument for the environment
30 November 2010The European Commission has just launched an online public consultation to gather views on the next financial instrument for the environment, to succeed LIFE+ in the period 2014-2020. We welcome your opinions on its objectives, priorities and support modalities.This online consultation is one part of a wider public consultation, whose responses will be taken into account in the European Commission's proposal for a new instrument.
Agro-forestry solutions for tackling climate change in Galicia, Spain
23 November 2010A forum to discuss the ‘challenges and opportunities for the Galician agro-forestry sector in the light of climatic changes’ was organised recently by the LIFE+ Information & Communication project, Change or Change LIFE (LIFE07 INF/E/000852).
The event, held on 27 October 2010, in the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain, was attended by Santiago Urquijo, the European Commission’s LIFE Unit representative, climate change experts from the University of Santiago de Compostela, as well as technical project experts.
Swedish biosphere reserve born out of LIFE+ Nature project
16 November 2010Sweden’s second biosphere reserve opened in September 2010, including the Lake Vänern archipelago and the Kinnekulle plateau located to the south and to the west of the country. This initiative was born out of the substantial work that went into the award-winning LIFE+ Nature project (LIFE02 NAT/S/008484). The United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organisation announced earlier in the year that it was adding the roughly 100-square-kilometre “Vänerkulle” site to its network of biosphere reserves. A statement by the UNESCO advisory committee acknowled the “importance of the site in terms of its rich biological diversity”
EWWR 2010 plans to “make some noise against waste!”
15 November 2010 Following the success of the inaugural edition last November, the second LIFE+ co-funded European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR - LIFE07 INF/F/000185) will take place from November 20th to November 28th 2010. “EWWR 2.0” promises to be even bigger, with events in 16 EU countries, led by 30 organisers (11 more than last year).
To emphasise the importance of the waste reduction message, organisers are calling on the public to “make some noise against waste” by taking part in a “BatucaMob” in one of several locations around Europe at 11:00 am on the opening day of the EWWR.
Creating a LIFE link between Minorca and Cyprus
09 November 2010 A technical team of the LIFE+ Plant-Net project of Cyprus (LIFE08 NAT/CY/000453) visited LIFE RENEIX (LIFE07 NAT/E/000756) on the Spanish island of Minorca in late October 2010 to exchange knowledge and experiences on plant species protection.
The project team from Cyprus studied the implementation of strategies in Minorca that could also be useful for the protection of plant species in Cyprus.
LIFE helps fly ash catch the eye at student world cup
28 October 2010 Students from the University of Brescia (Italy) have this week been showcasing jewellery made from recycled ash at the Student Yachting World Cup in La Rochelle (France). The jewellery is the first product made of reprocessed fly ash to be successfully taken to the public from the innovative LIFE project COSMOS (LIFE08 ENV/IT/000434).
The project has been working to find practical applications for the inert product COSMOS, made from treated fly ash - one of the most significant by-products of the incineration of solid waste.
Irish Environment Minister launches LIFE river volunteers
25 October 2010 The Irish Minister of the Environment, John Gormley TD, was in Annacotty, County Limerick on 22 October to officially launch a key element of the LIFE project MulkearLIFE (LIFE07 NAT/IRL/000342). The project has created the first ever volunteer corps established on a river-catchment basis in Ireland.
The locally based ‘ Mulkear Conservation Volunteers’ will contribute significantly to the project’ s overall aim of restoring the Lower Shannon Special Area of Conservation
LIFE aids flood risk prevention in Bavaria
13 October 2010 Householders, businesses and local authorities in Bavaria, Germany are all set to benefit from a new online flood hazard mapping service developed as part of the LIFE FLOODSCAN project (LIFE06 ENV/D/000461). The service was launched in mid-September and updates an existing flood hazard mapping service in line with the requirements of the EU Floods Directive (2007/60/EC).
Finnish and Swedish LIFE experts get-together on peatland restoration
05 October 2010 Finnish and Swedish mire and bogs’ restoration experts from two LIFE projects met recently in North Karelia (a region in eastern Finland) to exchange knowledge and experiences on the conservation of peatlands, including notably of three of the most threatened habitat types: aapa mires, bog woodlands and active raised bogs.
Allis shad migrate downstream on the Rhine
29 September 2010 The allis shad (Alosa alosa) reintroduction project has made an exciting discovery. For the first time in more than 50 years, juvenile allis shad have migrated downstream on the river Rhine.
The species has been considered extinct in the river since 1940. The downstream migration, which used to regularly occur in late summer, is part of the diadromous lifecycle of the allis shad.
LIFE project brings European expertise to the Celtic Sea
27 September 2010 The LIFE project PISCES is giving Celtic Sea stakeholders access to some of Europe’s leading maritime experts for a month, from 21st September. The innovative project will enable the major sectors of activity related to the Celtic Sea to develop their understanding of how to ensure the long-term protection of the natural marine environment and associated economic activities.
2010 LIFEnews survey: thumbs up from users
16 September 2010 The majority (98%) of respondents to the European Commission’s 2010 LIFEnews user-survey are satisfied with the LIFEnews electronic newsletter and accompanying e-alerts.
The online survey was commissioned by DG Environment’s LIFE Units to find out more about the LIFEnews audience – its interests and satisfaction with LIFE publications/ products.
LIFE projects win three Energy Globe Awards
10 September 2010 LIFE projects won the National Energy Globe awards for sustainability for Ireland, Czech Republic and Greece for 2009.
The projects were considered to be the best examples of work to conserve and protect natural resources in their respective countries for that year.
Protecting our natural capital: an EU strategy to conserve biodiversity and ensure the provision of ecosystem services by 2020
01 September 2010The European Commission is launching a broad consultation on biodiversity that aims to gather input from a wide range of stakeholders on possible policy options for the European Union's post-2010 EU biodiversity strategy, which will be assessed by the Commission as part of the process of its development.
Brackish Marsh symposium helps knowledge exchange
23 August 2010 The LIFE Nature Brackish Marsh project (LIFE 06 NAT/NL/000071) held a well-attended symposium at the Zeeland Provincial Hall in Middelburg, Netherlands on 25 June 2010. The event, chaired by Erik Jan van der Meer, attracted managers, conservationists, policymakers and other specialists in the field from South-Holland, Brabant and Belgium, as well as Zeeland.
LIFE project provides mercury storage solution
18 August 2010 The LIFE project MERSADE (LIFE06 PREP/E/000003) recently presented its newly developed prototype storage facility for surplus mercury. This innovative solution is one of the principal outputs of the project, which aims to help the EU meet its 2005 strategy for dealing with this poisonous metal.
LIFE shows value of artificial wetlands in mitigating pesticide pollution
03 August 2010 The French LIFE Environment project (ArtWET – LIFE06 ENV/F/000133) has tested prototype artificial wetlands – an potentially important new technology in the struggle to reduce non-point source pesticide pollution across Europe. Contamination caused by pesticides used in agriculture is a cause of concern because of the potential impacts on the environment, wildlife and human health.
LIFE project wins documentary film prize
28 July 2010 A LIFE Nature project on “Actions for the reintroduction of the Bearded Vulture in Andalusia” (LIFE04 NAT/ES/000056) has won an award for a documentary film produced to highlight the current situation of the bearded vulture in the South of the Iberian Peninsula. The documentary “La Sierra Incompleta” (The Incomplete Mountain Range) presents the extinction of the bearded vulture from the region in the late 1980s and the local work undertaken to reintroduce the species since then.
LIFE CLEANTRUCK project aims to be inspirational
26 July 2010 The LIFE Environment CLEANTRUCK project (LIFE08 ENV/S/000269) has outlined its aims at the recent Inspirational Day conference in Karlstad, Sweden. Delegates at the event, which informs Swedish organisations about EU-funding opportunities, heard Björn Hugosson from the Environment and Health administration of project beneficiary, the City of Stockholm, explain how CleanTruck plans to reduce the environmental impact of heavy goods transport in the Swedish capital by rolling out a fleet of 80 biofuel-powered delivery trucks.
Commission to provide over €250 million for more than 200 new LIFE+ projects
23 July 2010 The European Commission has approved funding for 210 new projects under the third call for the LIFE+ programme (2007-2013). The projects are from across the EU and cover actions in the fields of nature conservation, environmental policy, and information and communication. Overall, they represent a total investment of €515 million, of which the EU will provide €249.8 million.
Bulgarian LIFE+ project tags juvenile eagles
14 July 2010 The LIFE+ Nature project Save the Raptors (Conservation of imperial eagle and saker falcon in key Natura 2000 sites in Bulgaria - LIFE07 NAT/BG/000068) has announced the start of its tracking programme of Eastern imperial eagles (Aquila heliaca). Seven eagles aged about two months have so far had state-of-the-art satellite transmitters attached to their backs by partners from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Speakers presentations from LIFE Nature conference now available
13 July 2010 The conference "LIFE Nature and Biodiversity – preparing the future" took place in Brussels on 31 May and 1 June 2010. For those who were unable to attend or for those who would like to refresh their memories on the different contributions made to this very open debate, speakers presentations are now available.
First white stork born in Lippe (Germany) in 50 years
07 July 2010 Good news from the LIFE project Lippeaue, situated in North Rhine-Wesphalia, Germany: for the first time in 50 years white stork breeding has proved successful in the Lippe plains near Hamm, where a LIFE project was completed recently. An infant storck was born on 11 June 2010. Its parents built their nest on a 'wheel', which the LIFE project set up last year
Summary note on the "LIFE Nature and Biodiversity-preparing the future" conference
29 June 2010The conference "LIFE Nature and Biodiversity – preparing the future" took place in Brussels on 31 May and 1 June 2010. It had about 350 participants who discussed in a very open manner the future of LIFE+ - Nature and Biodiversity, both in terms of what can still be done under the current LIFE+ Regulation and of the way in which a future Regulation might be structured.
Italian government promotes “Project of the Month”
28 June 2010The Italian Ministry of Environment is featuring a “Project of the Month” on its website to promote the LIFE+ programme. The initiative, which was launched in Rome in March 2010, aims to boost the dissemination of ongoing LIFE+ projects.
Recognition for Best LIFE Environment and LIFE Nature & Biodiversity projects 2009-2010
09 June 2010The winners of the ‘Best LIFE Nature & Biodiversity Projects 2009-2010’ and the “Best LIFE Environment Projects 2008-2009” received their awards at two special awards ceremonies, held in Brussels to coincide with Green Week 2010.
Valencia celebrates its LIFE project success
08 June 2010The regional office of Valencia has this week been celebrating the success of the Valencian project Zero Plus in receiving an award as one of the best LIFE Environment projects 2009. It was rewarded as one of the five best projects in the ‘waste management’ category along with another project from Spain and projects from Germany, France and Portugal.
LIFE helping to secure a future for Europe's most endangered songbird: as governments adopt new action plan to protect aquatic warbler
28 May 2010 Europe's rarest songbird, the aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) will be better protected following decisions taken at a key meeting of the United Nations Environment Programme's Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).
The meeting (see UNEP press release) in Biebrza National Park (Poland) agreed to extend the geographical coverage of the CMS
New environmental tool launched for European footwear companies
26 May 2010 Some 90% of the EU’s footwear industries are located in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece and Slovenia, and a new LIFE + project has been launched recently to plug environmental information gaps for footwear businesses in these five Member States.
Most European footwear companies are SMEs and have a small workforce, of around 20 employees. Such a business structure can create challenges for the sector when it comes to compliance with environmental requirements
LIFE celebrates World Biodiversity Day
25 May 2010 The first World Biodiversity Day took place last Saturday (May 22). The aim of this day was to raise awareness of the problem of biodiversity loss and show the implications of these losses in our daily lives. As well as supporting an interactive PR campaign involving a website, social media and video clips, the European Commission marked the occasion with a series of family events.
‘Best of the Best’ LIFE project awards
21 May 2010 The ‘Best of the Best’ 2009-2010 LIFE Nature and LIFE Environment projects have been selected and will be awarded at the conference ‘LIFE Nature and Biodiversity – preparing the future’ and during the EU’s Green Week (1-4 June).
Contributions welcome for LIFE Nature & Biodiversity Wiki
19 May 2010 The Land Stewardship Network of Catalonia (Xarxa de Custodia del Territori) has created a new Wiki to collect information, suggestions and recommendations on how the LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity financing instrument could better implement nature stewardship.
Launch of €1.75 million Irish ‘MulkearLIFE’ river restoration project
12 May 2010 The official press launch took place on 4 May, in Co. Limerick (Ireland) of MulkearLIFE, a new €1.75 million European Commission co-funded LIFE Nature project working on the restoration of the Lower Shannon special area of conservation (Mulkear River catchment) for the Atlantic salmon (salmo salar), European otter (lutra lutra) and sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus).
LIFE+ 2010 Call for proposals now open
04 May 2010 The fourth LIFE+ call for proposals has been published on 04 May 2010, with up to €243 million available for co-financing of projects under three headings: nature and biodiversity; environment policy and governance; and information and communication.
Project proposals should be sent to the relevant national authority no later than 01 September 2010.
'LIFE among the olives' now available in three more languages
28 April 2010 The recently published brochure of olive oil production and LIFE's role in improving its environmental impact is now available in Spanish, Italian and Greek. Olive farming has become more intensive in recent decades and olive processing now produces significant and growing volumes of waste. This brochure examines how the LIFE programme is helping both olive growers and olive processors to improve their environmental performance
Have your say on the future of LIFE Nature & Biodiversity
22 April 2010 Discussion on the future of LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity has been launched by the European Commission (DG Environment) LIFE Unit, via the new online LIFE Community Forum. The aim is to gather ideas and suggestions from stakeholders as to what has worked well in the current LIFE Nature programme and what should be changed ahead of the next LIFE Regulation.
LIFE partnership launches Belgian nature conservation project
13 April 2010 The LIFE project, “Ecological restoration of the Pond area M-L through a close participation of the private and public landowners and a triple E-approach” held a press conference in Heusden Zolder (Belgium) on the 26 March, officially launching the project and kick-starting the process of promoting stakeholder awareness and participation.
Europe’s children introduced to My Friend Boo
12 April 2010 A LIFE Information and Communications project launched its highly innovative animated series ‘My Friend Boo’ across Europe on 22 March. The cartoons aim to help Europe’s children understand key messages about environmental issues in a simple and entertaining way and have been created through the Eco-Animation project.
LIFE success with European Waste Reduction Awards
07 April 2010 The awards ceremony for the LIFE funded European Week for Waste Reduction 2009 took place in Brussels on Monday 15 March 2010, attracting participants from across Europe.The awards honour exemplary awareness raising actions on waste reduction in 5 categories: administration & public authorities; associations & NGOs; business & industry; educational establishments; and other. This was the first year of the event and awards went to projects from Estonia, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
Life is twice as good with two new LIFE Focus publications
30 March 2010 There is a double cause for celebration for all those working on the LIFE programme today with the publication of two new LIFE Focus brochures. The latest release from the LIFE+ Environment & Eco-Innovation strand is called ‘Water for Life – LIFE for water: protecting Europe’s water resources’. Also new today from LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity is the publication ‘LIFE improving the conservation status of species and habitats: Habitats Directive Article 17 report’
Three Iberian lynx released totally into the wild
26 March 2010 A LIFE project (LIFE06 NAT/E/000209) has successfully completed the release into the wild of three adult Iberian lynx - Europe’s most threatened carnivorous mammal. Taking place in Guadalmellato, near Córdoba, this follows on from an earlier pre-release stage reported here in January 2010.
LIFE+ project looks to “give packaging a new life”
24 March 2010 On 15-17 February 2010, the project partners celebrated the kick-off meeting of the LIFE+ project: FENIX.
European experts from the project partners in Spain, Portugal and Germany discussed the work programme and technical specifications for the delivery of a user-friendly and flexible software tool to provide environmental life-cycle assessments (LCA) for packaging waste.
LIFE project honoured with visit by Hungarian President
12 March 2010 A LIFE Nature project to save the Hungarian meadow viper (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis) was this month honoured by a visit from the President of Hungary, László Sólyom. After taking part in the release of a viper back into the wild, the President highlighted that “Of all the EU’s LIFE Nature projects, this is one of the top five. It is something we can really be proud of.”
Follow LIFE on Facebook and Twitter
05 March 2010 LIFE is reaching out to whole a new audience with the launch of two new social networking services. Firstly, there is now an official fan page on Facebook. Members of the service who become ‘fans’ of LIFE will be able to see breaking news stories from the LIFE website, find out when new LIFE publications are available and read about relevant forthcoming events, such as 'LIFE Nature and Biodiversity – preparing the future' conference.
LIFE newsletter
The newsletter LIFENews, issued every month, features information on the LIFE programme, presents successful projects and identifies events and publications linked to the programme.
LIFE+
Coordinators corner
This section gives a voice to LIFE project coordinators.