Brussels, 20/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - A total of 202 new innovative environmental and nature conservation projects will receive EU joint funding worth a total of €268.4 million under the LIFE+ programme the European Union's environment fund (with a total budget of €2.143 billion for the period 2007-2013), the Commission announced on Friday 20 July. These projects, which represent a total investment of some €516.5 million, have been selected from the 1,078 applications from public and private bodies across the EU, submitted in response to a call for proposals that closed in July 2011. They cover all three components of LIFE+.
On this the 20th anniversary of the LIFE programme and the Habitats directive (Directive 92/43/EEC) and given that the next LIFE programme (2014-2020) will embrace both the environment and climate, Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said: “I'm delighted to announce the continuing support for high quality environmental projects across the EU. These latest LIFE+ projects continue a trend, started two decades ago, for innovative and best-practice actions furthering nature conservation, improving the environment and tackling climate change”.
LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity. 76 projects (out of the 268 received) across 22 member states represent a total investment of €241.8 million, with EU providing €136 million. 71 are Nature projects, contributing to the implementation of the Birds and/or Habitats Directives and Natura 2000. The other five tackle wider biodiversity issues.
LIFE+ Environment Policy & Governance. The 113 projects selected from the 607 proposals received are pilot projects that contribute to the development of innovative policy ideas, technologies, methods and instruments. The EU will provide some €124.4 million of the total investment of €258.4 million. 23 of these projects directly tackle climate change: the Commission will contribute more than €31.4 million to the total investment of €67.8 million. Waste (29 projects) and water (19 projects) are two other important areas of focus.
LIFE+ Information and Communication. The 13 projects selected for funding (from 203 received) come from a range of public and private sector nature and/or environment organisations in nine member states. They will receive joint-funding of some €7.2 million, out of a total investment of €16.2 million. In addition to environmental issues, these projects provide training and awareness-raising for the prevention of forest fires. (AN/transl.rt)