Best LIFE-Nature Projects 2011

How were the projects selected?

Scoring of completed LIFE-Nature projects began in 2007, using a set of criteria developed by the Commission. These criteria include: improvement of the conservation status of the species/habitats targeted at project sites; the short-term leverage effect of the project (ie additional resources mobilised during the project); the extent to which the species/habitats targeted at project sites have attained long-term sustainability and fully favourable conservation status; the long-term leverage effect (ie resources and support mobilised to maintain and reinforce the improvements of conservation status in the long-term); regional/national/international impact.

All completed projects are initially assessed by the LIFE Unit’s external monitoring team (the Astrale consortium). The monitors rank all the projects that end during the reference period to produce a first list of 20-25 "Best" projects. The final selection is undertaken by the Member States, each "Best" project being further evaluated by at least two Member States, and an average score is established (also taking into account the monitors' evaluation). The 5 top-scoring projects are the 5 "Best of the Best" projects.