LIFE-Nature: 85 new projects approved
The EU's Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE) aims to contribute to the development and implementation of EU environmental policy, by financing specific environmental actions in three sectors, LIFE-Environment, LIFE-Nature and LIFE-Third Countries. Information on a number of new projects to be funded under LIFE-Nature has recently been released by the Commission. A total of 85 projects have been selected for 1998, an increase of 25 from last year, and will receive a total of ECU 48 million in European funding, contributing to the total ECU 102 million required. The projects to be funded will target the protection of habitats and species and will be carried out by a range of bodies, predominantly local and regional public authorities and NGOs. More than 70% of the budget will be spent on specific on-site activities, with 10% being spent on raising awareness and information activities, and the remaining funds on various preparatory actions. Examples of the projects selected include: - In Spain, a project targeting the brown bear, with the aim of integrating hunting management into the species conservation strategy; - In Greece, a project aimed at the restoration of the palm forest of Vai, Crete; - In France, a project targeting the re-establishment of the salmon population in the river Loire.