Examples of effective LIFE websites

All LIFE projects are required to have a web presence (either a dedicated website, or part of an existing website). This should provide details of the project’s objectives, actions, progress and results. It should feature the LIFE logo (and Natura 2000 logo for Nature and Biodiversity projects) and an acknowledgement of LIFE's support (e.g. The [insert project name] project has received funding from the LIFE programme of the European Union). The website needs to be online within six months of the start of the project and should be updated regularly. The beneficiary is obliged to keep the website online for five years after the project ends.

The website is the main source of information about the LIFE project. It acts as a hub of information directing visitors to the different sections, elements and communications channels (newsletter, social media).

For more advice on building your project website, visit this page.

Effective and well-designed LIFE project websites

The project website should be clear, well-designed and up-to-date. Make navigation easy by following the 3-clicks rule and a logic structure in the menus. Avoid cluttered pages and distracting elements.

The ideal homepage of a LIFE website will be uncluttered, give a brief description of the project and enable access in one click to all sections of the site through clearly-labelled menus.

The exemplary homepage from the Italian project Olive4Climate is simple and well designed, and contains the following elements:

• Attractive-looking pictures
• Brief description of the project
• Mention of LIFE funding
• Uncluttered
• Clearly-labelled menus
• Easy access to all sections
• Links to language versions
• Social media icons

Banners, boxes and high-quality images all help create a visually-appealing website, which is likely to attract more visitors.

The LIFE logo (and the Natura 2000 logo for Nature and Biodiversity projects) should be visible. An effective way to include the logos is to use the header or footer of the website.

Every website must also include a message saying “The project has received funding from the LIFE Programme of the European Union”. Here are some examples:

If your project has a strong focus on community engagement or is working to address a particular environmental issue (e.g. through an awareness-raising campaign or days of action), this should be reflected in your website.

 

The homepage of the Clean Sea Life project makes it easy for visitors to connect with the project. The project invites visitors to sign a promise to the sea (in the form of a petition) as a way to receive contact details and raise awareness on marine litter issues. There are also links to social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) and several ways to easily sign the petition and sign-up to the project's newsletter.

 

lifeHEROTILE has a well-structured website. The progress section is dynamic and visual, making it simple to follow what the project is doing. The download section is easily accessible, located next to the social media icons.

 

LIFE FRANCA's website uses a carousel of powerful cover images to convey the impact of flooding. Information is clear and navigation is simple and well-structured. This makes it easy for the reader to discover the latest news and key documents from the project. For instance, contact information is one click away from the flood risk awareness project's homepage. The website also includes concise messages about what it the project is doing for each of its target audiences.

 

The website of FLAW4LIFE, a project encouraging people to eat misshapen fruit and vegetables, uses graphics to highlight results. This visual approach enables messages to be conveyed in a simple and direct manner.

The LIFE OPTIMELT project's website makes clever use of pictograms to display progress towards its objectives...

It uses visualisations to convey expected emission reductions in a clear and easy-to-follow manner. No time wasted looking for results...

With a striking cover image and a prominent LIFE logo, this is a good example of a well-thought out project website.