Life+ Nature & Biodiversity

Overview

LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity focuses on the implementation of the EU directives on the conservation of habitats and of wild birds, as well as further strengthening the knowledge needed for developing, assessing, monitoring and evaluating EU nature and biodiversity policy and legislation

LIFE+ Nature
This component will co-finance best practice or demonstration projects that contribute to the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives. The maximum co-financing rate is 50% but may be 75% for projects focusing on priority species or habitats.

Focuses on:

• Sustainable long-term investments in Natura 2000 sites
• Conservation actions for species targeted by the Birds’ and Habitats’ directives
• Projects must ‘demonstrate best practice’
• Co-financing rate is generally 50% (but up to 75% when clearly targeting priority species or habitats)
• Land purchase is possible
• A significant part (at least 25%) of the project budget should be allocated to ‘concrete conservation actions
• Recurring conservation management actions for species, habitats and Natura 2000 sites are ineligible

Data from past LIFE funding show that there are relatively few proposals addressing the direct conservation of a rather large part of the biodiversity covered by the Habitats Directive. For example arthropods and mollusc species are seldom the specific target of LIFE+ Nature projects. Applicants are invited to consider this aspect when preparing their proposals

LIFE+ Biodiversity
This component will co-finance innovative or demonstration projects that contribute to the implementation of the objectives of Commission Communication "Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond". The maximum co-financing rate will be 50%.

Focuses on:

• Demonstrating innovation measures for enhancing biodiversity in both terrestrial and marine areas, without regard to the Natura 2000 status
• Actions must be different from and have an added value compared to those in Natura 2000 network
• Co-financing rate for projects is 50%
• Land purchase is ineligible
• A significant part of the project budget should be allocated to ‘concrete conservation actions’
• Scope includes French overseas departments

LIFE+ Nature or Biodiversity?

LIFE+ NatureLIFE+ BiodiversityExclusively Birds and Habitats directivesNot restricted to the Birds and Habitats directivesDemonstration of best practiceDemonstration of innovationLong-term sustainability of conservation measuresDemonstrating the feasibility of new or
innovative measures in the short termLand purchase and long-term lease or compensation eligibleOnly short term lease or compensation are eligible

Funding
The overall budget for LIFE+ 2007 - 2013 across the EU is €2.143 billion. At least 50 %of this amount shall be allocated to measures to support the conservation of nature and biodiversity. The UK Budget over the lifetime of the LIFE+ Programme is up to €20 million.

There is no fixed minimum project budget size. But the EC does seem to favour the co-financing of large, ambitious LIFE+ proposals with a substantial budget, with the average grant awarded been in excess of € 1 million.

There is NO pre-determined project duration for a LIFE+ project. Be aware it must be long enough to complete all actions and objectives set out in the project plan. Therefore most projects last 2-5 years.

Eligibility

• Only the EU 27 countries are eligible at present, although third country participation is possible later
• LIFE+ is open to all legal persons, public or private, commercial or non-commercial, that are legally established in the EU.
• Project proposals can either be submitted by a single entity or a partnership from one or more of the 27 member states of the EU.
• Member States are responsible for forwarding all project proposals to the Commission, setting national priorities and objectives

How to apply

Registered organisations within the European Union will be encouraged to bid for a slice of the funding. They include:

• Local authorities;
• Other public bodies;
• Private commercial organisations;
• Private non-commercial organisations, including NGOs.

Applications to the programme will be invited in the form of an annual call for proposals from the European Commission. For more information information, and access to the various application guides and draft papers, please visit the following link: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm

Defra, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has contracted Beta Technology Limited to provide a national contact point service to assist organisations and individuals to access LIFE+ funding. This web link below provides information about the LIFE+ programme, together with an outline of the assistance available to help you with your application.