The 2010 call for proposals for the LIFE+ programme has now opened, with up to €243 million available for co-financing of projects!
LIFE+ aims at co-funding actions in the field of nature conservation (LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity) as well as in other fields of the environment that are of European interest (LIFE+ Environment and Governance). A third component of LIFE+ aims specifically at co-funding information and communication activities for the environment (LIFE+ Information and Communication).
More information can be found on the LIFE+ website.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus2010/call/index.htm
In addition to this web-info, information sessions are held in all EU member states: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/news/events/events2010/info_workshops10.htm
The Information Session for Irish Proposals will take place on 3rd June, 2010 at the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government offices in Dublin. For further details, email: LifeIE@mwhglobal.com
For each of the 3 components of LIFE+ a separate application guide is available.
Proposals are to be submitted by 1st September 2010 , for project starting at the earliest on 1/9/2011. Projects can be either national or transnational, but the actions must exclusively take place within the territory of the 27 Member States of the European Union.
Below a few extracts from the application guides to highlight some of the funding opportunities for coastal and marine projects in this LIFE+ call:
Among the indicative themes for the component LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity (pages 22 and 23 application guide):
- Projects aimed at the preparation and planning for the designation of new marine Natura 2000 sites in territorial or off-shore waters and/or the extension of existing marine sites.
- Projects for the implementation of river basin management plans, or addressing Marine Regions, for the implementation of measure to guarantee a Good environmental status.
- Projects to test fisheries management measures in line with the requirements of the Marine Strategy Directive and technical measures to reduce by-catch of species which are not commercially exploited.
- Projects addressing ecosystem functions and services.
Among priorities for the 2010 call in LIFE+ Environment policy & governance
Under "water" objective (page 23 application guide):
- implementation of innovative measures of Integrated Coastal Zone Management;
- implementation of innovative activities contributing to a "good environmental status" of marine water according to the Marine Directive;
- implementation of green/blue infrastructures, linking urban and rural areas, as well as marine and coastal areas (fish passes, restoration of river morphology, water retention in urban areas, restoration of links between water bodies and their flood- and marshplains) (NB: When dealing with green/blue infrastructures that aim directly at creating the necessary connectivity among Natura 2000 sites, proposals should be submitted under LIFE+ Nature).
Under "strategic appraoches" (page 26 application guide) :
Promote strategic integrated planning approaches for improving the use of land and sea.
- promoting integrated planning approaches which consider ecosystem approaches to tackle fragmentation, and developing a Green Infrastructure approach, supporting the multi-purpose use of land by safeguarding and improving ecosystem services
- improving access to and exchange of data and information on environment through implementation of INSPIRE and SEIS guidelines
The application highlights that projects are particullary welcomed in the area of Natural resources and waste, to develop and implement policies designed to ensure sustainable management and use of natural resources and waste.
For the 2010 LIFE+ Information and Communication component, among areas of particular interest (application guide page 19):
- Halting the loss of biodiversity.
- Awareness raising campaigns on biodiversity (aligned with the relevant EU Campaign) aimed at explaining to the general public what biodiversity is and why it is important.
- Natural resources and waste, to develop and implement policies designed to ensure sustainable management and use of natural resources and waste.
- Promoting the integration of biodiversity concerns in territorial planning procedures.
- The promotion of connectivity between natural areas (Green Infrastructure) by explaining it better to citizens.
- Integrating the concept of Ecosystems services in private company management or in public spending in particular in connection to Green Public Procurement.
- Compilation and active transfer to relevant stakeholders that could usefully implement them of the techniques used, results and lessons learnt from a significant number of previous
LIFE projects for a specific theme/habitat/species (e.g. rivers, bogs, bats).
- The broad and targeted dissemination of best practices (including best practices developed as part of previous LIFE projects).