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LIFE is the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects throughout the EU, as well as in some candidate, acceding and neighbouring countries. Since 1992, LIFE has co-financed some 3506 projects, contributing approximately €2.5 billion to the protection of the environment. Read more >>
Study highlights risk posed by PVC blood bags
16 May 2012A new report , which was carried out as part of a LIFE+ project, shows that blood bags made of DEHP-plasticised PVC pose a significant risk to human health. The report – a life-cycle assessment, LCA – was commissioned by the Swedish project ‘PVCfreeBloodBag’ (LIFE10 ENV/SE/000037), which is aiming to phase out the current blood bags in Europe and replace them with PVC-free alternatives.
The study compared the impact of a blood bag made of PVC (polyvinylchloride) and DEHP (di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) with that of a hypothetical blood bag made of HDPE (high density polyethylene). The LCA shows that today’s PVC bag has a significantly higher potential for harming human health than a polyethylene bag, with regards to both DEHP and PVC.
Happy 20th Birthday LIFE!
03 May 2012LIFE celebrates its 20th anniversary on 21 May 2012: The LIFE Regulation passed into law on 21 May 1992 – paving the way for the launch of the LIFE programme, the EU’s financial instrument for the environment. To mark this auspicious occasion, more than 300 ‘LIFE 20th anniversary’ events are taking place throughout the month of May – organised by LIFE projects present or past. The dissemination (innovative and fun) events range from a LIFE Easter Camp for kids (Spain), a regional Flower Fair (Greece), to a moonlit Frog Concert (Germany).
In addition, a special one-day nature event, held in Jutland (Denmark) on 21 May, will mark both LIFE’s 20th birthday and celebrate the EU Habitats Directive and Natura 2000 network. For details of this event – attended by Environment Commissioner, Janez Potočnik, and Denmark’s Environment Minister, Ida Auken – as well as information on all the 300-plus LIFE events, see the LIFE 20th anniversary calendar.
LIFE-backed business reaches packaging goal
19 April 2012Proving there is plenty of life after LIFE, the Dutch company Paperfoam, a recipient of LIFE funding from 1999-2001 (LIFE99 ENV/NL/000232) has recently launched a commercial product that achieves one of the key goals of its LIFE Environment project. The target of the 'Paperfoam' project was to develop new, 'green' products for the industrial packaging market based around a patented 'injection moulding' technology and using recyclable raw materials, such as potato starch, rather than the usual polystyrenes or cardboard. The beneficiary aimed to show that it was possible to produce a commercially viable, environmentally friendly alternative that could be used for packaging both food and non-food items.
'LiveWell for LIFE' Report
12 April 2012 LiveWell for LIFE (LIFE10/ENV/UK/000173) – a new LIFE+ project promoting a healthier and more sustainable diet among Europeans; and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the EU food supply chain – has published a report following its launch stakeholder debate, held in Brussels in February 2012.
The report “Eating our way to a healthy planet” summarizes the debate, which brought together representatives from national and European institutions, businesses, industry and academia. Tony Long, Director of the WWF European Policy Office (a project partner) and Catherine Bearder, Member of the European Parliament Committee on Regional Development, were among the main speakers.
LIFE PRIME influences change in Italian environmental law
23 March 2012The Italian Parliament is to change an environmental law to allow the use of beached Posidonia oceanica (algae and seagrass) residues as compost for agricultural purposes. This decision was heavily influenced by the work of the ongoing Italian LIFE+ Environment PRIME project.
Every year many coastal communities face the environmental problem of what to do with the thousands of tonnes of P.oceanica residues that are washed up on Mediterranean beaches. A bill to allow the possible reuse of the biomass as compost for agricultural purposes has been approved by the Italian Senate and is at the Chamber of Deputies for final approval. It contains a clear reference to the favourable results of the LIFE+ PRIME project.
And the winners are…
22 March 2012To mark the 20th anniversary of the LIFE programme in 2012, the LIFE Units organised two competitions open to all beneficiaries and project partners, past or present: a photo competition and a competition to sum up, in 20 words or less, what LIFE means to you.
From the numerous entries received, a panel of judges had the hard task of selecting the 20 “Best” photos and 20 “Best” texts. This long-list of “Best” entries was then whittled down to select the three “Best of the Best” photos and texts.
Wetland project takes giant strides towards improved water management
14 March 2012An important conservation and access project on the UK's Suffolk coast is making significant progress on improving water management and reducing the impact of disturbance on an incredibly fragile landscape. With support from LIFE+ Nature, the National Trust at Orford Ness and the RSPB at Havergate Island are working together for the benefit of internationally important wildlife, habitats and landscape under the “The Alde-Ore Estuary - Securing a sustainable future for wildlife” project (LIFE08 NAT/UK/000199).
The new call 2012 is now open!
13 March 2012The sixth LIFE+ call for proposals was published on 13 March 2012, with up to €276 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 26 September, 2012. National authorities will then send them to the European Commission by 2 October, 2012. The earliest possible starting date for 2012 projects is 1 July, 2013.
The Voices of LIFE celebrate 20 years
07 March 2012The latest LIFE Focus publication is a special edition to mark the 20th anniversary of the LIFE programme in 2012. A joint publication of the LIFE Nature and LIFE Environment units, The Voices of LIFE: 20 years of getting things done focuses on the people who have helped the LIFE programme achieve so much over the last two decades. Featuring interviews with more than 75 individuals from 20 countries, the publication allows people to explain, in their own words, the impact that LIFE co-funding has had on their work, their environment, their communities and their lives.
Kick-off seminar launches two Danish raised bog projects
17 February 2012Two Danish LIFE Nature projects, which were launched in 2011 and focus on restoring raised bogs in "Lille Vildmose" (LIFE10 NAT/DK/000102) and "Sølsted Mose" (LIFE10 NAT/DK/000099), recently held a joint-venture seminar on best practice for raised bog restoration. The restoration of raised bog (7110*) is currently a nature conservation priority In Denmark.
The seminar, which took place on 31 January at the "Lille Vildmose" visitor centre, was an opportunity for leading Danish raised bog experts to make recommendations for achieving a favourable conservation status of raised bog in the two project sites.
Bitterns beginning to boom in Britain
15 February 2012After many years of decline, the bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is re-establishing itself in British wetlands. While its subtle brown plumage make it difficult to spot among reeds, its distinctive foghorn-like call or ‘boom’ is being heard again in Britain thanks to conservation efforts co-funded by LIFE. In 1997, the population of bitterns had fallen to 11, and the project, ‘Bittern - Urgent action for the Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) in the UK’ (LIFE96 NAT/UK/003057) was launched to arrest the decline of this bird species, which before the Middle Ages was common in the UK. Its numbers fell first as a result of its desirability as a delicacy, then its interest to taxidermists, and finally the drainage of wetlands.
Fens project helps Anglesey community replace village shop
09 February 2012As a result of its actions to restore an endangered habitat of North Wales, the LIFE Nature Anglesey and Lleyn Fens project (LIFE07 NAT/UK/000948) is forming an important link with the local community. Whilst the goal of the project is to restore EU Habitats Directive-listed alkaline and calcareous fens through ground works followed by extensive grazing, as project manager Justin Hanson explains in this interview (mp3 file) , through its actions, the village of Talwrn on Anglesey has been able to replace a vital part of community life: the village shop.
Such is the appreciation for LIFE's efforts, that, not only has the shop been named after the local project site (Cors Bodeilio), but it will also be used to disseminate information about the project.
Commissioner Potočnik praises LIFE wetlands' projects
06 February 2012Two successful LIFE wetlands-related projects, one in Ireland and the other in Germany, highlight the importance of the LIFE programme for wetland conservation – said Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment, in a statement to mark World Wetlands Day 2012 (2 February).
Wetlands are among the world’s most threatened ecosystems, with some 50% of all wetlands having disappeared in the last century, said the Commissioner, noting that: "In Europe, the situation is even grimmer, with two thirds of our wetlands having disappeared over the past 100 years."
The EU is a major provider of funds for wetland conservation projects both within and outside Europe, he commented, adding that since 1992, LIFE has co-funded some 120 wetlands-related projects.
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.
LIFE+ 2012 call for proposals
