contenuti

I progetti presentati provengono da tutta l’UE e riguardano interventi nei settori della tutela della natura, della politica ambientale e dell’informazione e comunicazione. Complessivamente ciò rappresenta un investimento di 515 milioni di EUR, di cui 249,8 saranno coperti dal contributo UE.

Nel quadro dell’invito a presentare proposte, chiusosi nel novembre 2009, la Commissione ha ricevuto oltre 600 proposte da organismi pubblici o privati dei 27 Stati membri dell'UE. Di queste, 210 sono state selezionate per un cofinanziamento nell’ambito delle tre componenti del programma, ossia: LIFE+ Natura e biodiversità, LIFE+ Politica e governance ambientali e LIFE+ Informazione e comunicazione.

I progetti LIFE+ Natura e biodiversità migliorano lo stato di conservazione di specie e habitat in pericolo. Tra le 194 proposte ricevute, la Commissione ha scelto 84 progetti da finanziare, presentati da partenariati tra organismi di conservazione, enti governativi e altri soggetti. Situati in 24 Stati membri, tali progetti rappresentano un investimento complessivo di 224 milioni di EUR, a fronte dei quali il contributo dell'UE sarà di circa 124 milioni di EUR.

La maggior parte dei progetti (74) riguardano la categoria "Natura" e contribuiscono all'attuazione delle direttive sugli uccelli e/o sugli habitat e alla realizzazione della rete Natura 2000. Gli altri 10 sono progetti relativi alla biodiversità, una nuova categoria di LIFE+ per progetti pilota che affrontano temi più ampi connessi alla biodiversità. La Commissione osserva con compiacimento il continuo aumento del numero di progetti relativi alla biodiversità finanziati dal 2007, anno in cui la categoria è stata introdotta, e nel quale i progetti finanziati sono stati 4.

I progetti LIFE+ Politica e governance ambientali sono progetti pilota che contribuiscono allo sviluppo di idee politiche, tecnologie, metodi e strumenti innovativi. Tra le 308 proposte pervenute, la Commissione ha scelto 116 progetti presentati da una vasta gamma di organizzazioni del settore pubblico e privato. I progetti selezionati, localizzati in 17 Stati membri, rappresentano un investimento complessivo di 278 milioni di EUR, al quale l’UE contribuirà con circa 120 milioni di EUR.

La quota più cospicua del finanziamento UE (circa 20,9 milioni di EUR per 17 progetti) è destinata ai progetti concernenti l'innovazione. In termini di numero di progetti il settore prioritario è quello dei rifiuti e delle risorse naturali (19,3 milioni di EUR per 20 progetti), seguito dalle risorse idriche e dall'innovazione (17 progetti ciascuno). I rimanenti 63 progetti vertono su una molteplicità di temi tra cui aria, sostanze chimiche, cambiamenti climatici, energia, ambiente e sanità, foreste, rumore, protezione del suolo, approcci strategici e ambiente urbano.

I progetti LIFE+ Informazione e comunicazione divulgano informazioni e mettono in rilievo le questioni ambientali, oltre a promuovere la formazione e la sensibilizzazione alla prevenzione degli incendi boschivi. Tra le 113 proposte ricevute, la Commissione ha scelto 10 progetti presentati da una serie di organizzazioni del settore pubblico e privato che si occupano della natura e/o dell’ambiente, che riguardano questioni quali la biodiversità, i cambiamenti climatici, i rifiuti e le risorse idriche. Situati in 7 Stati membri, i progetti in questione rappresentano un investimento totale di 12,9 milioni di EUR, al quale l’UE contribuirà con circa 6,3 milioni di EUR.

Il programma LIFE+

LIFE+ è lo strumento finanziario europeo per l'ambiente, provvisto di una dotazione complessiva di 2,143 miliardi di EUR nel periodo 2007-2013. Durante questo periodo, la Commissione pubblicherà ogni anno un invito a presentare proposte di progetti LIFE+.

L'elenco dei progetti selezionati:

ITALIA - 56 progetti (94,2 milioni di EUR)

LIFE+ Politica e governance ambientali (40 progetti – 64,4 milioni di EUR)

• WIZ (ACQUE S.p.A)

Il progetto WaterIZe ‘WIZ’, che concerne la pianificazione del territorio, mira ad integrare la protezione e la gestione sostenibile delle risorse idriche nei processi di pianificazione urbana e nelle politiche locali. Il progetto si propone di integrare la gestione a lungo termine dell'analisi delle acque potabili nella pianificazione del territorio urbano, grazie ad una piattaforma intesa a coinvolgere gli enti locali nei processi decisionali.

• P.R.I.M.E. (Comune di Mola di Bari)

Il progetto mira a sviluppare il potenziale riutilizzo dei residui di Posidonia spiaggiata (Posidonia oceanica) grazie a un sistema integrato di gestione in grado di combinare la protezione ambientale con la gestione delle biomasse di scarto e il riutilizzo di materiali per l'agricoltura.

• I.MO.S.M.I.D. (Provincia di Reggio Emilia)

Il progetto mira ad individuare e definire un modello innovativo di governance integrata, ispirato a criteri di mobilità sostenibile. L'idea è quella di cercare di soddisfare la crescente domanda di servizi supplementari di trasporto pubblico locale e di ridurre l'uso di veicoli privati. Il progetto si propone di integrare trasporti ed energia in un sistema capace di sfruttare l'energia prodotta da fonti rinnovabili all'interno di un'area industriale sperimentale.

• SUMFLOWER (Università degli studi di Genova - Giardini Botanici Hanbury)

Il progetto mira a creare un sistema di gestione sostenibile per la floricoltura e l'orticoltura ornamentale. Ridurrà i principali impatti ambientali delle attività di floricoltura migliorandone l'efficienza, rispettando nel contempo la fattibilità economica. Le PMI attive nei settori della floricoltura e dell'orticoltura ornamentale saranno assistite nell'applicazione delle migliori tecniche disponibili, nonché delle tecnologie e pratiche innovative.

• WASTE-LESS in CHIANTI (Provincia di Firenze)

Il progetto mira a contribuire alle politiche europee e nazionali in materia di consumo sostenibile e di prevenzione della produzione dei rifiuti grazie all'attuazione e al monitoraggio di un programma integrato di prevenzione e riduzione dei rifiuti per la zona del Chianti fiorentino. Presentando un'area conosciuta a livello internazionale, questo progetto si propone di offrire agli Stati membri un modello al quale ispirarsi per definire i propri programmi di prevenzione della produzione di rifiuti entro il dicembre 2013 (come richiesto dalla direttiva quadro dell'UE sui rifiuti).

• N.O.WA.S.T.E. (I.R.S.S.A.T. - Istituto di Ricerca, Sviluppo e Sperimentazione sull'Ambiente ed il Territorio)

Obiettivi generali del progetto sono quelli di sviluppare e testare, in aree urbane di dimensioni ridotti, un sistema innovativo per la gestione e il compostaggio di rifiuti organici domestici. Usando materiali ecologici, il sistema mira ad eliminare le emissioni tossiche e a promuovere il risparmio energetico.

• GAIA (Comune di Bologna)

Il progetto mira ad affrontare due problemi ambientali distinti grazie ad una politica integrata: i cambiamenti climatici (effetti di mitigazione e di adattamento della forestazione urbana) e la qualità dell'aria (potenziale di depurazione delle piante). Il progetto prevede la diffusione di strumenti di partenariato pubblico-privato, sviluppati nel quadro di esperienze acquisite nel contesto della responsabilità sociale delle imprese, e la condivisione di queste conoscenze attraverso la diffusione di orientamenti specifici.

• AQUA (ARPA EMILIA ROMAGNA)

Questo progetto cerca di dimostrare che l'impatto negativo della produzione industriale - specificamente dell'agroindustria - sulla qualità e disponibilità delle risorse idriche può essere notevolmente ridotto grazie ad azioni volontarie a livello di impresa. L'idea è quella di introdurre il cosiddetto approccio "C2C" ("cradle-to-cradle", o rigenerativo) alle gestione delle acque industriali e di conseguire questo obiettivo ricorrendo a partenariati pubblico-privati.

• ManFor C.BD. (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche)

Il progetto mira a testare e a verificare "sul campo" l'efficacia di diverse opzioni di gestione delle foreste ai fini del conseguimento di obiettivi multipli (tra cui la produzione, la protezione e la biodiversità). Affronterà tali questioni in diversi settori sperimentali, dalla produzione alle foreste protette, compresi i siti Natura 2000 nonché le specie e gli habitat prioritari.

• EXPAH (Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma E)

Il progetto EXPAH riguarda i problemi ambientali e sanitari provocati dall'emissione, dispersione e trasformazione dei composti di idrocarburi poliaromatici (IPA). L'obiettivo generale è quello di individuare e quantificare l'esposizione dei bambini e degli anziani al particolato di IPA in un'area fortemente urbanizzata (ad esempio Roma) e di valutare l'impatto sulla salute umana, allo scopo di appoggiare la politica e la normativa ambientale in questo campo.

• P.Pro.SPO.T. (Comunità Montana Colline Metallifere)

Questo progetto mira ad introdurre in Italia, in particolare in Toscana, la tecnica di silvicoltura monospecie applicata alla gestione e alla conservazione di specie arboree sporadiche. Grazie alla valorizzazione di queste specie, il beneficiario spera di accrescere la biodiversità, la stabilità ecologica ed il valore delle foreste.

• OPERA (Agenzia Prevenzione Ambiente Emilia-Romagna)

L'obiettivo principale del progetto OPERA è quello di sviluppare metodologie ed orientamenti intesi ad aiutare gli enti locali nella pianificazione di politiche regionali a sostegno di azioni nazionali ed europee intese a favorire la conformità agli standard di qualità dell'aria. Tali azioni sono concepite anche per tener conto delle possibili sinergie con misure intese a ridurre le emissioni di gas a effetto serra.

• Bio.Lea.R. (Gestione Ambientale Integrata dell'Astigiano SpA)

Questo progetto mira a dimostrare il rendimento di una discarica destinata a rifiuti meno reattivi e trattati biologicamente (rifiuti organici pretrattati) rispetto alle discariche convenzionali. Il suo scopo è quello di controllare i livelli di umidità dei rifiuti organici pretrattati usando iniezioni di liquidi controllate e innovative, al fine di abbreviare e concentrare temporaneamente la produzione di biogas.

• NADIA (Provincia di Genova)

Il progetto mira essenzialmente a dimostrare la fattibilità tecnico-economica e l'efficacia delle migliori pratiche per ridurre l'inquinamento acustico provocato dal traffico stradale (e, in alcuni casi, per ridurre anche le emissioni di CO2 e il consumo energetico). Tale obiettivo sarebbe raggiunto integrando la mappatura acustica, le attività di pianificazione, l'uso di tecniche innovative (quali ad esempio barriere, finestre e asfalto antirumore), la gestione del traffico e l'educazione.

• ETA-BETA (Agenzia per la Promozione e lo Sviluppo Sostenibile dell'Area Metropolitana di Milano SpA)

Obiettivo principale del progetto è quello di quantificare l'impatto ambientale delle piccole e medie imprese (PMI). Per conseguire questo obiettivo realizzerà iniziative che miglioreranno la capacità delle PMI di sviluppare e usare tecnologie ambientali, rafforzando e promuovendo nel contempo la creazione e lo sviluppo di aree produttive ecologicamente attrezzate (EEPAs, "ecologically equipped productive areas").

• EFRUD (Consorzio per la ricerca e lo sviluppo di tecnologie per il trasporto innovativo)

Il progetto mira in primo luogo a ridurre i danni ambientali provocati dal trasporto di merci deperibili refrigerate all'interno delle aree urbane. Il progetto ridurrà le emissioni e l'inquinamento acustico e migliorerà l'efficienza energetica della catena logistica, mantenendo nel contempo gli standard dei beni deperibili.

• EnerGeo (Ceramiche Gardenia Orchidea SpA)

L'obiettivo principale del progetto è quello di ridurre drasticamente le emissioni di CO2 e il consumo energetico nella produzione di piastrelle di ceramica facendo uso di due nuovi geopolimeri: Geopolfloor-base e Geopolfloor-schiuma. Il progetto dimostrerà la fattibilità, su scala industriale, dell'uso di questi materiali per la produzione di piastrelle da pavimentazione.

• ELBA (Autorità Portuale di Piombino)

Il progetto si concentrerà sulla pianificazione, la realizzazione e la dimostrazione di un sistema avanzato di mobilità integrata ecosostenibile per persone e merci all'isola d'Elba, localizzata poco lontano da Piombino, sulla costa italiana.

• SUN EAGLE (Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli)

Il progetto mira a promuovere un approccio localizzato e partecipativo alla valutazione e attuazione delle politiche in materia di riduzione delle emissioni e di aumento della capacità di assorbimento del biossido di carbonio. Ciò avverrà grazie alla sperimentazione con modelli di governance locale, con particolare riferimento alla gestione di foreste e montagne.

• GREEN INNOVATION (Politecnico di Milano)

Questo progetto mira a dimostrare che è possibile produrre su più larga scala elementi strutturali di forma complessa a base di magnesio, che possono essere usati in sostituzione delle componenti di automobili. L'uso di tali componenti porterà a una significativa riduzione di peso, andando a sostituire direttamente componenti pesanti in acciaio o ghisa, che costituiscono – in media – circa il 64% del peso di un'auto.

• ET IDEA (NIER Ingegneria SpA)

Il progetto ET IDEA mira a sviluppare e testare il concetto di TRY (anno tipico di riferimento) in quanto strumento innovativo per la ricostruzione, la standardizzazione e l'analisi dei dati meteorologici per tutta l'Italia. Produrrà un pacchetto software contenente TRY per 1 500-2 000 località in tutta l'Italia. Tale software agevolerà la standardizzazione e l'analisi dei dati meteorologici per tutto il territorio nazionale.

• E.N.A. (Provincia di Pesaro e Urbino)

L'obiettivo principale del progetto è quello di migliorare l'efficienza ambientale delle PMI nel settore navale delle Marche. A questo scopo, e in linea con la direttiva 2005/32/CE relativa alla progettazione ecocompatibile dei prodotti che consumano energia, nell'industria nautica saranno applicate prassi in materia di emissioni di carbonio e sistemi di gestione ambientale, cosa di cui saranno informate oltre 300 società.

• PALM (Studio Galli Ingegneria (SGI) SpA)

Il progetto PALM mira a sviluppare un sistema di supporto decisionale che consenta alle aziende di distribuzione dell'acqua di trovare un equilibrio ottimale tra la riduzione delle fughe di acqua e la sostenibilità economica. In ultima analisi, l'obiettivo è quello di consentire alle aziende di distribuzione dell'acqua di ridurre le perdite di acqua del 50% e di ridimensionare il loro impatto ambientale fino al 60%.

• T.A.SM.A.C (Trasporti pubblici della Regione Marche)

Il progetto ridurrà l'impatto ambientale (inquinamento acustico e atmosferico) del traffico automobilistico derivante dall'afflusso di turisti nei centri urbani; migliorerà l'accessibilità, la vivibilità e l'accessibilità dei centri urbani per turisti e residenti; e definirà un modello di governance della mobilità urbana (modello T.A.SM.A.C.) modulato sui flussi turistici.

• SEDI.PORT.SIL (MED INGEGNERIA Srl)

Il progetto SEDI.PORT.SIL mira a dimostrare un approccio integrato alla gestione sostenibile dei sedimenti dragati dai porti. Il progetto intende dimostrare l'efficienza delle tecnologie di trattamento tradizionali unite a tecniche innovative per riciclare e sfruttare i sedimenti dragati dai porti, considerandoli non solo rifiuti pericolosi, ma anche risorse.

• Ultra Crash Treatment (Metallurgica Abruzzese SpA)

L'obiettivo principale del progetto è quello di ridurre al minimo i problemi ambientali relativi ai processi di galvanizzazione a caldo delle vergelle di acciaio. Ciò sarà possibile dimostrando che è opportuno sostituire il processo di galvanizzazione a caldo con una nuova tecnologia basata sulla galvanizzazione spray a freddo delle polveri.

• MDPATC (Trafileria e Zincheria Cavatorta SpA)

Questo progetto si propone di dimostrare approcci tecnologici che riducano l'impatto ambientale della produzione di vergelle. I trattamenti fisici rimpiazzeranno i processi chimici e - nel corso della produzione di prodotti con l'anima in metallo ad alta prestazione quali chiodi, viti e reti saldate ad arco - saranno migliorate le opportunità di riciclaggio.

• Sludge's Wealth (COOMI SOC.COOP.)

Questo progetto mira a dimostrare il rapporto costi/efficacia di un nuovo impianto di trattamento dei rifiuti per le unità mobili offshore. Tale impianto si basa su una tecnologia di riscaldamento ibrida (microonde e aria calda) in grado di convertire i fanghi biologici in pellet combustibili. Le microonde dovrebbero contribuire a depurare il prodotto finale, che può poi essere utilizzato come combustibile per inceneritori.

• ECO-CLUSTER (Parco Nazionale Appennino Tosco-Emiliano)

L'obiettivo principale del progetto ECO-CLUSTER è quello di migliorare l'impatto ambientale delle PMI attive nell'area del parco nazionale. In parallelo, il progetto mira anche a contribuire a migliorare la competitività delle imprese locali. Tale duplice obiettivo sarà raggiunto preparando e attuando un piano d'azione per il Programma di assistenza per il rispetto dell’ambiente destinato alle PMI.

• LAIKA (Comune di Milano)

Il progetto mira a dimostrare che gli enti locali sono in grado di adottare metodi armonizzati efficaci in materia di contabilità, pianificazione e comunicazione dei dati per i progetti dedicati alla riduzione delle emissioni dei gas a effetto serra (GES). Gli obiettivi specifici del programma consistono nello stabilire un inventario di base per i GES, fissare - a livello comunale - un obiettivo di emissione per tali gas nell'area alla quale si riferisce il progetto e definire azioni e misure per il conseguimento degli obiettivi a livello locale.

• AQUA (Centro Ricerche Produzioni Animali - CRPA)

Questo progetto ridurrà - a livello di bacino idrografico - l'inquinamento delle acque provocato da nutrienti grazie all'ottimizzazione dell'uso dell'azoto (N) e del fosforo (P) provenienti dagli allevamenti, cosa che limiterà la dispersione di nutrienti nelle acque. Questo obiettivo sarà conseguito riducendo l'azoto presente nel letame, cosa resa possibile limitando l'immissione di azoto nei mangimi e rendendo più efficiente la fertilizzazione, massimizzando così l'efficacia dei nutrienti.

• GAS-OFF (Azienda Sperimentale Vittorio Tadini)

Il progetto mira a sviluppare un approccio strategico integrato per mitigare le emissioni dei gas ad effetto serra provenienti dalle aziende lattiere. Tale obiettivo sarà conseguito monitorando 50 aziende lattiere in provincia di Lodi. Le informazioni raccolte nel corso della durata del progetto aiuteranno i ricercatori, i responsabili della pianificazione agricola e i responsabili delle decisioni politiche a sviluppare e mantenere sistemi sostenibili.

• H2POWER (Comune di Perugia)

Questo progetto propone un nuovo approccio all'uso delle energie per la mobilità. L'obiettivo generale, suffragato dall'introduzione di elementi intesi a ridurre l'impatto inquinante dei combustibili tradizionali, è quello di ridurre le emissioni di CO2 provenienti dai motori tradizionali a combustione interna. La metodologia prevederà la conversione di un autobus urbano alimentato a metano in uno alimentato a idrogeno/metano.

LIFE+ Natura e biodiversità (15 progetti – 28,8 milioni di EUR) - LIFE+ Natura (13 progetti)

• ECO-RICE (Provincia di Vercelli - Settore Tutela Ambientale)

Tra gli obiettivi principali di questo progetto figurano i seguenti: salvaguardare e migliorare i siti forestali e i corridoi ecologici fluviali più importanti nell'area interessata; individuare nuovi settori per lo sviluppo di una rete ecologica; attuare modelli di gestione forestale intesi a migliorare le condizioni di nidificazione per gli aironi; guidare un approccio territoriale integrato alla gestione del territorio (su scala provinciale) che riunisca tutti gli interessati pubblici e privati.

• SICALECONS (Regione Sicilia - Assessorato Agricoltura e Foreste)

L'obiettivo principale di questo progetto è quello di migliorare lo stato di conservazione delle sottospecie endemiche di coturnice di Sicilia. Le azioni avranno come oggetto le aree della rete Natura 2000 identificate come zone di protezione speciale (ZPS) e comporteranno un lavoro di riduzione del rischio per ciascuna delle minacce individuate.

• ARCTOS (Ente Autonomo Parco Nazionale Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise)

Il progetto cerca di rendere le buone prassi e le norme in materia di allevamento più compatibili con le necessità degli orsi. L'obiettivo è quello di accrescere di almeno il 30% il numero di aziende agricole vulnerabili agli orsi che adottano misure di prevenzione efficaci e tecniche di allevamento compatibili con la presenza degli orsi.

• POSEIDONE (Regione Lazio – Direzione Ambiente e Cooperazione tra i Popoli)

L'obiettivo principale di questo progetto è quello di salvaguardare e ripristinare alcuni dei siti marini Natura 2000 che rivestono particolare importanza per la conservazione dell'habitat prioritario "Praterie di posidonie nel Mar Tirreno".

• COORNATA (Ente Parco Nazionale della Majella)

L'obiettivo generale del progetto è la conservazione a lungo termine del camoscio appenninico negli Appennini centrali. Il progetto mira a creare cinque colonie di camosci appenninici, geograficamente isolate, in cinque parchi, ossia il Parco nazionale di Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise, il Parco nazionale della Majella, il Parco nazionale del Gran Sasso e dei Monti della Laga, il Parco nazionale dei Monti Sibillini e il Parco regionale Sirente Velino.

• ARION (Università degli Studi di Genova)

Il progetto mira essenzialmente a migliorare lo stato di conservazione del tursiope troncato nell'area marina protetta di Portofino. Per conseguire tale obiettivo si eviterà la diminuzione di esemplari grazie a un sistema di monitoraggio acustico in grado di individuare e rintracciare i tursiopi troncati. Per individuare e seguire i delfini in tempo reale, sulle boe dell'area marina protetta di Portofino sarà installata una rete di idrofoni, in comunicazione con un centro computerizzato on-shore.

• LIFE+ FAGGETE DEL TABURNO (Provincia di Benevento)

L'obiettivo generale di questo progetto è quello di migliorare lo stato di conservazione di specie e habitat nei siti Natura 2000 del massiccio del Taburno, in particolare gli habitat dei faggeti, piantando Fagus sylvatica, Ilex aquifolium e Taxus baccata a rigenerazione naturale.

• SORBA (Provincia di Vicenza)

Questo progetto nel quadro di LIFE Natura mira principalmente a ripristinare gli habitat d'acqua dolce nelle ex aree adibite alla piscicoltura dei siti di Bosco Dueville (Natura 2000). Per agevolare la creazione di condizioni più naturali saranno effettuati lavori strutturali, e l'impianto di vegetazione locale faciliterà la ricolonizzazione da parte di specie anfibie (Rana latastei) e ornitiche (Alcedo atthis, Nycticorax nycticorax, Egretta garzetta and Circus aeruginosus).

• Re.S.C.We. (Comune di San Benedetto del Tronto (Riserva naturale regionale Sentina))

L'obiettivo generale di questo progetto è quello di riportare le lagune costiere alla loro condizione originaria e di distanziare le dune di rifiuti lungo la zona costiera della riserva naturale Sentina.

• Siti Natura 2000 nel Delta del Po (Consorzio del Parco Regionale del Delta del Po dell'Emilia-Romagna)

Questo progetto ha per oggetto la conservazione di habitat e di specie nei siti Natura 2000 del Delta del Po. Per conseguire questo risultato il progetto si propone di sviluppare azioni di conservazione congiunta tra proprietari multipli pubblici e privati.

• RICOPRI (Provincia di Roma)

Questo progetto si propone essenzialmente la conservazione a lungo termine di due habitat prioritari a formazione erbosa la cui sopravvivenza dipende dalle buone pratiche di gestione agricolo-pastorale. Un ulteriore obiettivo è la conservazione delle specie di farfalle associate a questi habitat, in particolare la Eriogaster catax e la Melanargia arge.

• LIFE+ BOSCO INCORONATA (Comune di Foggia)

Gli obiettivi generali del progetto sono la conservazione degli habitat rari o a rischio del parco naturale regionale del Bosco dell'Incoronata e l'accrescimento della biodiversità del sito Valle del Cervaro - Bosco dell'Incoronata, sito di importanza comunitaria (SIC) nell'ambito della rete Natura 2000.

• ZONE UMIDE SIPONTINE (Regione Puglia - Assessorato all'Ecologia)

Il progetto Zone Umide Sipontine mira a ripristinare le zone umide della Capitanata (sito Natura 2000). Nello specifico, il suo obiettivo è quello di migliorare lo stato di conservazione degli habitat prioritari di zone umide, dune costiere, lagune costiere e steppa salata mediterranea presenti nel sito, e offrire benefici alle specie di volatili.

LIFE+ Biodiversità (2 progetti)

• EC-SQUARE (Regione Lombardia)

L'obiettivo principale di questo progetto è quello di controllare ed eliminare le minacce causate dagli scoiattoli grigi in diversi contesti socioecologici. Le azioni del progetto saranno localizzare in tre regioni diverse (Lombardia, Piemonte e Liguria) dell'Italia settentrionale.

• PP-ICON (Università ALMA MATER STUDIORUM)

Questo progetto LIFE relativo alla biodiversità mira soprattutto a garantire la sopravvivenza di una popolazione isolata della rara specie vegetale Dictamnus albus e a ripristinare la comunità di impollinatori naturali di Dictamnus albus in un parco regionale della provincia di Bologna.

LIFE+ Informazione e comunicazione (1 progetto – 1 milione di EUR)

• FISH SCALE (Costa Edutainment SpA (Acquario di Genova))

La tendenza dei pescatori commerciali a rigettare in mare fino al 60% della propria cattura in quanto cattura accessoria, dovuta al fatto che la domanda si concentra su un numero di specie ittiche relativamente ridotto, rappresenta sia una seria minaccia alla biodiversità che una causa di impoverimento delle risorse ittiche. Questo progetto mira a far conoscere e apprezzare ai consumatori le specie commestibili trascurate (prevalentemente locali). Ciò attiverà un circolo virtuoso, facendo aumentare la domanda delle specie in questione e il loro valore commerciale, cosa che contribuirà a ridurre i rigetti in mare e a preservare la biodiversità marina. 

AUSTRIA - 3 projects (13.3 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (One project - 5.9 million)

• CEMOBIL (Magistrat der Landeshauptstadt Klagenfurt am Wörthersee)

The aim of the project is to significantly reduce air and CO2 emissions in the city centre of Klagenfurt by increasing the share of electric vehicles to 10% of all new registrations.

LIFE+ Nature (2 projects - 7.4 million)

• Flusslandschaft Enns (Amt der Steiermärkischen Landesregierung)

The main objective of the project is to reduce the threats to the area around the river Enns by reconnecting alluvial forests and other valuable habitats with the river dynamics and improving the condition of remaining peatland habitats and orchid meadows in the river valley.

LIFE+ Großtrappe (Österreichische Gesellschaft Großtrappenschutz)

The objectives of this LIFE+ project are to reduce the threat of collision with power lines, for many years the main cause of mortality among adult and immature great bustards in Austria, and at the same time to continue Austria’s intensive habitat management efforts.

BELGIUM - 7 projects (21.2 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (4 projects – 8.6 million)

• Renew4GPP (Firma Dam De Saedeleir NV)

The project aims to enhance green public procurement (GPP) by demonstrating to municipal authorities the ecological advantages of three high-quality, innovative gardening products based on 100% renewable resources. These products can be substituted for conventional mulch and barrier fleeces, which are made from oil-based materials.

• VOPAK-EXPERO3 (Vopak Chemical Terminals Belgium NV)

This project’s objective is to demonstrate the applicability of an in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) technique for the remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with a cocktail of organic contaminants in very high concentrations at an explosion sensitive site.

• ATMOSYS (Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek NV)

The objective of this project is to set up, evaluate, and demonstrate an advanced air quality modelling system and associated web-based service, containing novel elements specifically designed for air pollution policy support in hot-spot regions. The system will be based on advanced technology, including prognostic 3-D atmospheric computer models.

• DEMOCOPHESII (Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment)

The main objective of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of a harmonised approach to Human Biological Monitoring (HBM) in the EU by implementing a pilot study in 16 Member States and sharing the expertise with five additional countries that will be adhoc members of this project.

LIFE + Nature (3 projects – 12.3 million)

• LIFE Kleine Nete (Natuurpunt Beheer vzw)

The project aims to restore 52 ha of a complex of Annex I habitats that depend on seepage, flood and/or (in the lower stream) freshwater tide; 17 ha of Annex I habitats on a dry, poor, sandy soil as a stepping stone between the Campine plateau and the heath lands in Flanders; and 3 ha of the valuable Annex I habitat “oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters” and their associated species such as dragonfly and moor frog.

• ZTAR (Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos)

The project aims to restore the rich biodiversity of this internationally important Natura 2000 site by carrying out large-scale restoration of the ecological dynamics in the Zwin area, thus enabling appropriate implementation of the Birds and Habitats directives

• Life Itter en Oeter (Natuurpunt Beheer vzw)

This project is aiming to combats threats to species listed in the annexes of the Habitats and Birds directives in the lowland brook systems of Bosbeek and Itterbeek, a Natura 2000 site. At the end of the project, the site will be one of the key areas in lowland Europe for the target habitats and species.

BULGARIA - 2 projects (3.3 million)

• Black Sea Oak Habitats (Balchik State Hunting Area)

The overall objective of the Black Sea Oak Habitats project is to ensure long-term conservation of priority oak habitats by reforestation measures and management planning. These should provide favourable conditions for sustainable development of the target habitats (Pannonic woods with Quercus petraea and Carpinus betulus; Pannonian woods with Quercus pubescens; Euro-Siberian steppic woods with Quercus spp; and Eastern white oak forests).

• Safe Ground Redbreasts (Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds)

The project aims to introduce land-management measures in the Dobrudzha region of northern Bulgaria to provide secure foraging grounds for the red-breasted goose. The intention is that this will stabilise the population of the most threatened goose species in the world in its wintering grounds.

CYPRUS - 2 projects (2.6 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (1 project – 1.3 milion)

• PM3 (Department of Labour Inspection Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance)

The project aims to support the competent Cypriot authorities in preparing efficient and cost-effective particulate matter (PM) management. For this purpose, state-of-the art forecasting and scenario analysis software will be applied. The project will enhance data collection and processing capacities through the integration of remote-sensing technologies into the existing monitoring network.

LIFE+ Nature (1 project – 1.3 million)

• ICOSTACY (Environment Service - Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment of Cyprus)

The project’s objectives are to improve the habitat of 20 targeted species within 14 Natura 2000 sites, to assess the conservation status of these species to complete knowledge gaps, to raise awareness among land users and the general public with regard to these species, and to provide evidence to support concrete proposals for enhancing the ecological coherence of the Natura 2000 sites in Cyprus.

CZECH REPUBLIC - 2 projects (8.5 million)

LIFE+Nature (2 projects - 8.5 million)

• Lounské Středohoří Steppe (Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection of the Czech Republic)

The project aims to contribute to the maintenance and the restoration to favourable conservation status of the unique thermophilous habitats and species in the Lounské Středohoří hills. The project will seek to increase the populations of target species, improve overall species diversity and raise public awareness of thermophilous habitat types and species, their protection, maintenance and sustainable use.

• Butterflies CZ-SK (Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection of the Czech Republic)

The project aims to introduce, test and promote patchwork management, which is essential for the conservation of the target butterfly species. The project will also propose and test new agri-environmental measures, which should enable the inclusion of currently excluded areas under the agricultural subsidy scheme (c. 900 ha affected).

DENMARK - 5 projects (11 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (3 projects - 5.8 million)

• Climate Partnerships (Albertslund Kommune)

The project aims to mobilise local Public Private Partnerships (PPP) for climate solutions and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from private enterprises through PPP. It will do this by developing and demonstrating effective models for PPPs for climate planning and GHG reductions in private enterprises and by developing competences and tools in local administrations.

• Composites Waste (Grymer Group ApS)

The key objectives of the project are to develop a new waste business concept involving the sourcing and processing of composites waste into quality glass fibre materials and to demonstrate the use of processed composites waste material in two main industries: the production of asphalt for road-paving; and the production of exhaust systems and silencers.

• NorthPestClean (Region Midtjylland)

The main objective of the NorthPestClean project is to demonstrate, using large-scale pilot studies, that a novel remediation method based on in situ alkaline hydrolysis is an effective technology for cleaning pesticide contaminated soil and groundwater.

LIFE+ Nature (2 projects – 5.2 million)

• RAHID (Danish Forest and Nature Agency)

The main objective of the project is to restore some of Denmark’s large areas of heath land. And improve the conservation status and, if possible, increase the surface area of dry sand heaths and inland dunes and Juniperus communis formations on heaths.

• CONNECT HABITATS (Faaborg-Midtfyn Kommune)

The Connect Habitats project aims to restore semi-natural dry grassland habitats in the Bøjden Nor nature reserve to a favourable conservation status. It also aims to improve the conservation status of coastal lagoons and Atlantic salt meadows, and enable their development inland in order to combat the impacts of climate change and coastal erosion.

ESTONIA - 1 project (2.6 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (1 project - 2.6 million)

• OSAMAT (Eesti Energia AS)

Every year some eleven million tonnes of oil shale is burned, producing more than six million tonnes of oil shale ash (OSA) This by-product is disposed of by spreading on land, causing pollution of rainwater. The objective of the project is to demonstrate the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of converting aggregates and additives (OSA) into a material that can be used in the construction sector.

FINLAND - 9 projects (16.6 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (8 projects - 14.6 million)

• VOCless waste water (Uudenkaupungin Rautavalimo Oy (Meehanite Technology Oy))

The project aims to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from mechanical and semi-chemical pulping processes and will specifically target VOCs in wastewater from the pulping process. It will demonstrate the viability of a VOC and odour abatement system in conditions characterised by fumes with high humidity, varying VOC concentrations, low oxygen content, the possible presence of sulphur compounds and large air-flows.

• GISBLOOM (Suomen ympäristökeskus)

The project aims to build capacity to integrate climate change effectively into river basin management plans in Finland. It will demonstrate an integrated model to quantify the effects of different climate-change scenarios to help tackle threats of eutrophication and algal blooms.

• LCA IN LANDSCAPING (MTT Agrifood Research Finland)

The project will demonstrate the many possibilities to use waste-derived materials in green cover (particularly in amenity lawn areas) construction and management. To this end it will conduct a lifecycle assessment (LCA) of the 20 demonstration sites. The LCA results are expected to show that the increased use of recycled materials in landscaping will reduce negative environmental impacts.

• Climforisk (Metsäntutkimuslaitos (Finnish Forest Research Institute))

This project is concerned by how changes in the water cycle will affect forests. Many of the climate change effects on forests are dependent on how soils are able to provide water to plants. As a consequence, the project aims to improve knowledge of how forest growth could change in future by compiling existing data and models. Information compiled by the project will establish a better basis for regional forest management planning in the context of climate change.

• MACEB (Ilmatieteen laitos)

The project aims to demonstrate, using the best available tools, an innovative approach to mitigating warming of the Arctic climate by reducing black carbon (BC) emissions at mid latitudes. It will also identify knowledge gaps and uncertainties in how BC emissions can be linked to radiative forcing in Arctic areas using existing modelling and measurement tools.

• INSULATE (Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos (National institute for health and welfare))

The project will focus on the assessment of national programmes to improve the energy performance of the existing housing stock, such as government-supported improvements in thermal insulation. It will develop a common protocol for assessing the impacts of a building’s energy performance on indoor environmental quality and health and establish an integrated approach for the assessment of environmental and health information.

• ABSOILS (Ramboll Finland Oy)

The project aims to demonstrate that it is possible to convert discarded soil into valuable secondary materials with civil-engineering applications. It will determine the best possible solutions for the stabilisation of discarded soils, using regionally sourced commercial and by-product additives (such as fly ash), with the ultimate goal of establishing the optimum mixing of soil and stabilisation materials for different applications.

• REDUST (City of Helsinki)

The project aims to find best winter practices in the fields of traction control, dust suppression and street cleaning, and accelerate their implementation in order to reduce levels of respirable street dust (PM10) in urban areas. The project will demonstrate the emissions reduction potential and air quality benefits of these best practices.

LIFE+ Nature (1 project – 2 million)

• Return of rural wetlands (Metsähallitus)

The main objective is to create a new framework and give a good start to a future nationwide programme for wildlife habitat conservation, restoration and recreation that will operate on a local level. The project has two distinct parts, demonstrative and innovative, which both have the objective of halting the loss of biodiversity in the Finnish wetlands outside the Natura 2000 network and other protection programmes.

FRANCE - 12 projects (28.9 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (9 projects - 22.2 million)

• ECOTRANSFLUX (Five Celes)

The Ecotransflux project aims to demonstrate that the high power Transverse Flux Induction Heating (TFIH) technology can be implemented on new processing lines of steel cold-rolling plants to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and acid waste, whilst meeting quality, economic and capacity criteria.

• WaterRtoM (Office International de l’Eau)

The general objective of the project is to speed-up the transfer of research outputs to practitioners in the water management sector. A methodology will be developed for assessing the potential benefits of emerging tools / methods with regard to the distance from research to market (the Research to Market Assessment Strategy - ReMAS). Furthermore, for the research outputs ranked “close-to-implementation”, an individualised strategy for business implementation will be developed thanks to a Precursors Marketing Strategy (PMS).

• IRIS (RHODIA Operations)

The IRIS project aims to demonstrate the industrial-scale feasibility of an innovative catalytic chemical process to convert co-products of the polyamide-66 nylon chain into the new eco-friendly and safe solvent Rhodiasolv IRIS, which is readily biodegradable, non-VOC, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and non-irritant.

• AETHER (LAFARGE LCR)

The AETHER project intends to show the feasibility of producing a new type of cement at industrial scale within existing industrial installations with significantly lower CO2 emissions than conventional Portland cement. This will be done by demonstrating the performance of an innovative type of clinker with a new and proven chemical composition.

• CLIMATE (Conseil général de l’Essonne)

The CLIMATE project aims to develop and adopt a territorial climate action plan for the department of Essonne. The objective is that there will be signs of reduced GHG emissions in Essonne by 2013, aiming at a 25% reduction - compared with 1990 levels - by 2020.

• GREEN TESTING (Innovations Extrêmes, Technologies & Recherche)

The project will focus on demonstrating new environmental-friendly practices and technologies for surface non-destructive testing (NDT) - a part of the manufacturing process for high quality products in automotive, nuclear and aeronautic sectors. It will do this by optimising protocols and working methods to reduce consumption of energy and emissions to air, water and soil, as well as the quantity of waste being produced.

• C.C.H.P ENVIR CHALLENGES (Communauté de Haute Provence)

This LIFE project’s objective is to demonstrate the effectiveness of new territorial planning approaches aimed at improving the management of kitchen waste, waste recycling, energy efficiency and protection of soil and water resources. It will create a demonstration building containing environmentally-friendly features such as geothermal air circulation, heating produced by recycled wood logs from a waste reception centre, and photovoltaic panels for generating electrical energy and heating water.

• GREENCITY (VIZELIA)

The objective of the Green City LIFE project is to implement software controlling electricity, water and gas consumption in public buildings. Using 3D models and intelligent meters, the project will monitor consumption in order to manage and audit energy in real time. A web platform will centralise and control all data for the municipal buildings involved in the project, making it the most comprehensive such project carried out in this field.

• Green Waste Plast (Union des syndicats des PME du Caoutchouc et de la plasturgie)

The aim of this LIFE project is to demonstrate that waste of various types of ‘blister’ or light packaging, can be re-usable, and that innovative and effective recycling processes exist as an alternative to incineration or landfill. A pilot installation will be set up using innovative technologies such as granulators and micronisators to process, mill and grind waste products in a cryogenic low temperature atmosphere.

LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity (3 projects - 6.7 million) - LIFE+ Nature (1 project)

• MULETTE (Bretagne Vivante – SEPNB)

The project aims to restore the freshwater pearl mussel populations of “Massif armoricain” (French Brittany). It includes six sites that are classified as Sites of Community Importance (pSCI) and are known as main refuges for freshwater pearl mussel populations in western France.

LIFE+Biodiversity (2 projects)

• CAPE DOM (LPO)

This project’s objective is to contribute to stopping the biodiversity loss in three French overseas departments (Reunion Island, Martinique and French Guiana), by testing demonstrative and innovative conservation management tools for the protection of threatened bird species and their habitats, and by disseminating the results to the other EU outermost regions.

• BioDiVine (Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin)

The aim of this project is to demonstrate the benefits from strengthening landscape structures as a means to restore and conserve biodiversity in cultivated vineyards. This will be achieved by assessing biodiversity-friendly actions in different European biotopes. Complementary semi-natural spaces will be created in vineyards from seven test sites in three countries (Portugal, Spain, France) covering Atlantic, Mediterranean and Continental regions.

GERMANY - 9 projects (30 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (1 project - 4.4 million)

• MY FAVOURITE RIVER (Bundesrepublik Deutschland, vertreten durch Wasser- und Schifffahrtsdirektion Südwest, vertreten durch Wasser- und Schifffahrtsamt Stuttgart)

The project plans to co-ordinate concurrent investment plans at municipal, regional and national level in order to achieve unified, environmentally sustainable and durable river management. It thus aims to ensure appropriate and sustainable maintenance and development of the river Neckar as an important waterway.

LIFE+ Information and Communication (1 project – 0.8 million)

• Pro-Klima Autoklimaanlage (Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V.)

The project will campaign to reduce environmental pollution caused by vehicle air conditioning systems. Firstly, it will focus on raising awareness about enhancing current vehicle air conditioning systems, so that energy consumption and resulting emissions will be significantly reduced. At the same time, it will campaign for the introduction of natural refrigerants to be brought forward.

LIFE+ Nature (7 projects – 24.7 million)

• Rheinauen bei Rastatt (Regierungspräsidium Karlsruhe)

The project is targeting a substantial improvement of wetland ecosystems along a section of the river Rhine (west of Rastatt). As one of the most important ecological corridors in Central Europe, the area plays an important role in goals of a coherent Natura 2000 network: the project should substantially aid the restoration of many typical wetland habitats and also help to improve the conservation status of several plant and animal species listed in the Habitats Directive.

• Steigerwaldrand Iphofen (Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Gesundheit)

The project’s main aim is to conserve the Steigerwald hills Natura 2000 site near Iphofen. In addition, the project area will be developed as a demonstration area for traditionally-managed landscapes and for coppiced woodland in Germany and Central Europe.

• Wald – Wasser – Wildnis (Landesbetrieb Wald und Holz NRW)

The project’s overall goals are to develop and target the conservation of the four endangered forest habitat types in six Natura 2000 sites in the Eifel National Park, which encompasses the counties of Aachen, Düren and Euskirchen in North Rhine-Westphalia.

• Bergmähwiesen Winterberg (Naturschutzzentrum –Biologische Station – Hochsauerlandkreis e.V.)

The project aims to restore, ecologically improve and sustainably protect nationally significant clusters of mountain hay meadow as high-risk plant communities and as a refuge for endangered montane species and habitats. The planned project area comprises the Natura 2000 sites of “Bergwiesen bei Winterberg” and “Oberes Orketal” with the most important remnants of montane grasslands on a total of 538 ha.

• Alosa alosa (Landesanstalt für Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz in Nordrhein-Westfalen)

The key objective of the project is the re-introduction of Allis shad to the Rhine watershed. In a unique European approach, the project is combining the conservation of the largest remaining Allis shad population in Europe in the Gironde watershed in France with the re-introduction of Allis shad to the Rhine watershed in Germany.

• Hang- und Hoochmoore (Stiftung Natur und Umwelt Rheinland-Pfalz)

The project aims to restore and protect important bog habitats in the Hunsrück and Eifel area. The main objective of this project is to stop the decline of plant communities and species associated with bogs. In addition, the project will help stop emissions and reactivate the bonding of carbon dioxide from bog habitats.

• LIFE-Aurinia (Stiftung Naturschutz Schleswig-Holstein)

The overall objective of the LIFE-Aurinia project is to reactivate habitats of the marsh fritillary butterfly in the last two known sites of the species (Nordoe and Jardelunder moor). At similar good sites (e.g. the military training field Lütjenholm and Geltinger Birk) the project will try to improve the necessary habitats of the target species: mat grasslands, wet grasslands, heathlands and dry grasslands.

GREECE - 16 projects (25.8 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (10 projects - 18.2 million)

• PROTEAS (Technical University of Crete)

The main objective of the project is to develop a protocol of good practices in an essential health, safety, and environmental (HSE) management system. The project’s ultimate goal is to assist implementation of the REACH regulation and reduce risks from emissions or accidental releases of hazardous substances.

• WASTE-C-CONTROL (Environmental Planning, Engineering and Management (EPEM) S.A.)

The WASTE-C-CONTROL project aims to enable reduced GHG emissions by developing a software tool that will assess, monitor, control and report on the emissions resulting from the entire life cycle of solid-waste management activities. It will assess different waste-management options that will enable the project to identify procedures and practical tools within Local Action Plans (LAPs) that would reduce GHG emissions from waste-management activities at local level.

• Adapt2Change (Technological Education Institute (TEI) of Larissa)

The overall objective of the project is to demonstrate adaptation of agricultural production to climate change and limited water supply. Specifically, it aims to minimise agricultural water use by introducing a water-recycling method in a closed, fully automated, hydroponic greenhouse system.

• CARBONTOUR (Region of the North Aegean)

The CARBONTOUR project aims to develop an integrated methodology to measure CO2 equivalent emissions from tourism accommodation facilities and to strategically plan mitigation measures. The main output of the project will be a user-friendly software tool.

• eSYMBIOSIS (Viotia Prefecture)

The eSYMBIOSIS project’s general objective is to produce a web-based platform for Industrial Symbiosis (IS), enabling communication between potential partners and offering automated matching of partners according to economic and environmental objectives and thus facilitating the implementation of IS as an environmental policy at all levels.

• SAGE10 (Benaki Phytopathological Institute)

The SAGE10 project seeks to promote the long-term sustainability of the agro-ecosystem and economy. The project will develop an innovative Impact Assessment Procedure (IAP) for objectively evaluating the potential environment consequences of proposed agricultural practices. The IAP should be a tool for prioritising activities and achieving ISO14001/EMAS accreditation on farms.

• ROADTIRE (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)

The objective of the ROADTIRE project is to demonstrate an innovative use for recycled vulcanised rubber from end-of-life (EOL) tyres in road construction. This ultimately aims to demonstrate a market for EOL-tyres in civil engineering and thus reduce the amount of collected EOL-tyres being stockpiled or sent for uses with a higher carbon footprint.

• ENERGY-WASTE (Epana S.A.)

The project will develop and implement a demonstration logistics management scheme to exploit the thermal content of non-recyclable urban waste from EPANA’s recycling factory. It will do this by demonstrating an advanced gasification concept for the energy exploitation of the non-recyclable stream of a modern recycling factory, thus showing how the approach can reduce the overall GHG emissions from urban waste streams.

• ACEPT-AIR (N.C.S.R. “Demokritos”)

The objective of this project is to resolve the impact of major and minor sources of particulate matter (PM) that lead to concentrations exceeding EU limit values. A database will be developed that contains information on the physico-chemical characteristics of atmospheric particulate matter, the anthropogenic emission source strength, and the naturally emitted primary and secondary materials originating from local and/or distant sources. A methodology will be developed to produce a versatile and long-term decision-making tool for policymakers.

• SOL-BRINE (Municipality of Tinos)

The project promotes the concept of Zero Discharge Seawater Desalination and aims to develop an advanced solar-driven brine treatment system, promoting the use of renewable energy sources in the reject effluent (brine) treatment processes whilst eliminating brine disposal. The brine treatment system, which is in line with the Zero Liquid Discharge concept and the objectives of the Water Framework Directive, will thereby significantly contribute to the protection of inland surface waters, coastal waters and groundwater.

LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity (4 projects – 5.5 million) - LIFE+ Nature (2 projects)

• ARCTOS/KASTORIA (Perfecture of Kastoria)

The project aims to improve the conservation status of the brown bear in terms of habitat condition and population by addressing major threats relating to road infrastructure, traffic and human-caused mortality.

• ACCOLAGOONS (Prefectural Authority of Thessaloniki)

The objectives of the project are to restore the hydrological and ecological status of the Epanomi lagoon in order to enhance the conservation status of priority habitats of coastal lagoons and posidonia beds as well as the priority species they host, such as Numenius tenuirostris and Phalacrocorax pygmeus.

LIFE+ Biodiversity (2 projects)

• SKYROSBIODIVERSITY

The objective of this LIFE Biodiversity project is to establish integrated planning methods and management capable of enhancing biodiversity whilst remaining compatible with sustainable economic and social development. The actions will be based on the development of a Biodiversity Action Plan focusing on important habitats and species on the island of Skyros.

• VERENIKE (National Agricultural Research Foundation/ Forest Research Institute)

The aim of the project is to enhance biodiversity during the restoration of fire-disturbed ecosystems by introducing a new technology, based on pre-cultivation in mini-plugs, to be tested with a wide range of species. The seedlings produced using the new technology will be transplanted to three study areas in Central Macedonia, where their growth will be monitored and evaluated.

LIFE+ Information and Communication (2 projects – 2 million)

• PROM.SUS.FIS.PR.PRESPA (Society for the Protection of Prespa)

An awareness campaign will target local inhabitants and stakeholders, public authorities and the general public: The overall objectives are to promote the conservation of threatened endemic and rare fish of the area and to implement sustainable fishery practices. The project will seek to inform local people, professional and recreational fishermen of the importance of sustainable fishery practices across the Prespa basin and of the regulations to maintain the lakes’ native fish populations.

• Thalassa (MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study & Protection of the Monk Seal)

The project’s objective is to mitigate the imminent danger, caused by human-related threats, to the long-term term viability of all rare, endangered and important marine mammals inhabiting Greek waters. In order to achieve this, the project aims to raise the awareness of selected target audiences about marine mammals in Greece, the importance of these species for marine ecosystems, the imminent threats they face, and the conservation actions necessary to ensure their long-term viability.

HUNGARY - 1 project (4 million)

LIFE+ Nature

Falco cherrug B-H-R-S (Bükk National Park Directorate)

This LIFE Nature project aims to stabilise and further strengthen the European core populations of saker falcon (Falco cherrug) by implementing best practice F. cherrug conservation actions in Bulgaria and Romania.

IRELAND - 2 projects (4.1 million)

LIFE+ Nature (2 projects – 4.1 million)

• BLACKWATER SAMOK (Integrated Resource Development)

The main purpose of the project is to bring about a sustained enhancement of the Upper Blackwater SAC by targeting the species of Freshwater pearl mussel, Atlantic salmon, European otter and kingfisher. More specifically this will be achieved by carrying out actions aimed at restoring the quality of the river bed and riparian zone.

• DBPRBRI (Coillte Teoranta - The Irish Forestry Board)

The primary objective of this LIFE Nature project is to help restore wetland, peat-forming conditions on Ireland’s raised bogs by continuing the process of removing plantation forests. This project builds upon the work carried out under Coillte’s previous LIFE-funded project “Restoring Raised Bog in Ireland”, which was completed in December 2008.

LATVIA - 4 projects (8.3 million)

LIFE+ Nature (4 projects – 8.3 million)

• DVIETE (Latvian Fund for Nature)

The main aim of the project is to improve the conservation status of the corncrake (Crex crex) in Latvia and to restore breeding habitats for the species in a degraded and abandoned section of the Dviete river floodplain.

• MARMONI (Baltic Environmental Forum – Latvia)

The project aims to develop concepts for assessing the conservation status of marine biodiversity (including species and habitats) – examining the impacts of various human activities, as well as the impacts of nature conservation policy from a socio-economic perspective. Focusing on the Baltic Sea territorial waters and the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) of Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Sweden, the aim is to apply a regional approach for future marine biodiversity monitoring and international co-operation when assessing marine biodiversity in the Baltic Sea.

• Life-HerpetoLatvia (Municipality of the Daugavpils City)

The project’s main aim is to facilitate the enlargement of populations of Emys orbicularis, Coronella austriaca and Bombina bombina, and to ensure their long-term survival in Latvia, by implementing a combination of ‘in-situ’ and ‘ex-situ’ actions and by improving their legal protection.

• EREMITA MEADOWS (Daugavpils University)

The project’s goals are to develop a comprehensive ecological management system for Fennoscandian wooded meadows and rare species dependent on old-grown trees and undisturbed forest habitats; and to ensure the conservation of two EU priority beetle species: Osmoderma eremita and Phryganophilus ruficollis.

LITHUANIA - 4 projects (5.6 million)

LIFE+ Nature (4 projects – 5.6 million)

• Baltic Aquatic Warbler (Viešoji istaiga Baltijos aplinkos forumas)

The main project objective is to ensure the favourable conservation status of the aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola), which breeds in wet meadows and open fens dominated by sedge grasses.

• DENOFLIT (Klaipeda University)

The project aims to conduct inventories of marine species and habitats in the offshore waters of the Lithuanian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and designate Natura 2000 areas selected during site evaluation.

• Eagles in the forest (Viešoji istaiga Gamtosaugos projektu vystymo fondas)

The main goal of the project is to protect the nesting sites of at least 10% of the national lesser spotted eagle’s population – that is around 2.5% of EU population (more than 200 pairs) – from direct destruction and indirect damage caused by timber harvesting.

• ECONAF (Lithuanian Fund for Nature)

The overall aim of the project is to create an ecological network in the south of Lithuania by ensuring the favourable conservation status of threatened populations of selected Habitats Directive species and simultaneously enhancing the ecological value of the target area.

LUXEMBOURG - 1 project (5.3 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (1 project - 5.3 milion)

• ECO2 Tyre Tech (Goodyear S.A)

The project will develop concepts for environmentally sustainable tyres based on novel green material solutions. The beneficiary aims to reduce the weight, increase the mileage and reduce the noise of premium brand tyres, whilst increasing the amount of recycled and renewable material in the tyres. The ecological and economical benefits will be validated through the latest software for carbon footprint and lifecycle impact calculation.

THE NETHERLANDS - 6 projects (37.2 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (4 projects – 29 million)

• QSIDE (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO)

The QSIDE project aims to demonstrate a new methodology for assessing traffic noise in cities. The project will use a new engineering method to measure noise levels at quiet facades and in quiet areas and to produce detailed traffic-noise mapping of cities.

• ADIOS (Twee "R" Recyclinggroep B.V.)

The Adios project will construct a pilot plant with a tunnel oven to demonstrate a prototype thermal treatment process for denaturing asbestos on a large scale. The goal is to show that there is a better environmental and economic alternative to incinerating AFC waste or depositing it in landfill sites.

• BLUETEC (Bluewater Energy Services B.V.)

The BLUETEC project aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility and cost effectiveness of a full-scale 1 MW tidal-energy installation. It thus hopes to demonstrate the technology’s potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and improve Europe’s competitiveness in exporting innovative and renewable technologies.

• SEWEEX (Municipality of Arnhem)

The main objective of the project is to demonstrate a new SEWage Energy EXchange system (SEWEEX) to transfer heat from the sewage system to urban buildings. It expects to reduce CO2 emissions, as well as emissions of fine dust or nitrogen oxides (NOx), by 78% in comparison with the use of fossil fuels and to show financial benefits in comparison with other energy sources.

LIFE+ Nature (2 projects – 8.2 million)

• Revitalising Noordduinen (Stichting Landschap Noord-Holland)

The project will take place in the Natura 2000 site, Duinen Den Helder Callant-soog. This is one of the few Natura 2000 sites in the Netherlands where fixed coastal dunes (grey dunes) are still present. The aim of the project is to revitalise this part of the Noordduinen by demolishing and removing the hardened surfaces and buildings left behind by the military, in order to recreate the grey dunes habitat.

• Dutch dune revival (Vereniging Natuurmonumenten)

The main aim of this project is to enlarge and restore habitats and increase the presence of rare and characteristic species. This will be achieved by i) recovering and enlarging the area of grey dunes, white dunes and humid dune slacks at Voornes Duin; ii) recovering and enlarging the area of grey dunes and white dunes at Duinen Goeree and Kwade Hoek; and iii) recovering and enlarging the area of grey dunes, white dunes, dune forest and dunes with Hippophaë rhamnoides and humid dune slacks at Kennemerland-Zuid.

POLAND - 10 projects (25.3 million)

LIFE+ Information and Communication (2 projects – 3.3 million)

• FORESTFIRE II (Dyrekcja Generalna Lasów Państwowych)

This project aims to reduce risk of forest fires caused by people. Its general goal is to raise awareness of steps to prevent/avoid forest fires among rural residents and people using forests for recreational purposes. This is the second phase of a three-part campaign which aims to cover the entire country.

• DOKLIP (Fundacja Instytut na rzecz Ekorozwoju)

The main goal of the project is to raise awareness of climate change among leaders at county level and to stimulate initiatives in support of practical local measures to protect the climate and adapt to any changes.

LIFE+ Nature (8 projects – 22 million)

• Wislawarszawska.pl (Miasto Stoleczne Warszawa)

The general project objective is to restore the breeding colonies of waders, gulls and terns in the Middle Vistula Valley Natura 2000 network site (SPA), especially those within the Warsaw borders.

• Ochrona bociana bialego (Regionalna Dyrekcja Ochrony Srodowiska w Olsztynie)

The main objective of this project is to reduce stork mortality risks associated with power-line collisions. Other stork support actions will include renovating nest sites and improving habitat conditions for the species’ main amphibian food sources. The latter will be achieved by increasing the water retention capacity of habitat areas and by raising groundwater levels.

• Bagna sa Dobre! (Towarzystwo Ochrony Przyrody Ptaki Polskie)

This LIFE Nature project’s main aim is to restore degraded habitats located within the borders of the Warta Mouth National Park. Interventions will target breeding, feeding and resting grounds for birds in order to improve conditions for species that rely on open meadows and wetland habitats during migration and wintering.

• Renaturyzacja (Biebrzanski Park Narodowy)

The main goal of this project is to improve the conservation status of habitats and species at the Ostoja Biebrzańska and Dolina Biebrzy Natura 2000 network sites. Works extending over 9 000 ha will target hydrogenic habitats and restore appropriate water flow conditions in the vicinity of key areas, such as around the Rudzki canal, the Ełk river, the Jegrznia river, and the Woźnawiejski canal.

• Pustynia Bledowska (Gmina Klucze)

The main objective of this project is to secure a favourable conservation status for the largest Polish complex of xeric sand calcareous grasslands and inland dunes. Habitat restoration work will focus on the Pustynia Błędowska Natura 2000 site with the aim of restoring habitats here to the conditions they would have been in half a century ago.

• Biomass use for Aquatic W (Ogólnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Ptaków)

The aim of this project is to link the production of biomass as a renewable energy source, with the large-scale mechanised management of aquatic warbler habitats. The project seeks to demonstrate that conservation management of this habitat can also be economically viable.

• Polskie Ostoje Ptaków (Zaklad Badania Ssaków Polskiej Akademii Nauk)

The overall project aim is to implement and improve protection measures for a number of important European wetland bird species that breed in SPAs within the five Polish national parks. This will be achieved by improving habitat conditions in order to increase the breeding success of the targeted wetland bird species and, at the same time, curbing pressures from invasive alien predatory species, particularly the American mink (Mustela vison) and the common raccoon (Procyon lotor).

• Restytucja i utrzymanie siedlisk legowych ptaków wodnych i blotnych (Park Narodowy "Ujscie Warty")

The general objective of this LIFE Nature project is to restore and maintain habitats for breeding waterfowl birds that nest in meadow areas of the Warta Mouth National Park. Target species include the corncrake, gulls, terns, plovers and some ducks. Habitat work will safeguard appropriate plant succession processes and focus on permanently removing willow bushes. A two year programme of intensive grazing will be introduced in order to inhibit willow regeneration. This will be followed by the reintroduction of pasture on the meadows.

PORTUGAL - 8 projects (7.6 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (1 project - 1 million)

• Building-SPP (Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, I.P.)

The goal of the Building-SPP project is to mainstream sustainable public procurement (SPP) in Portugal and Greece by assisting public authorities in implementing a procurement strategy in line with their economic, social and environmental policies. It will also encourage co-operation among public procurers and promote greater market engagement among public procurers and suppliers.

LIFE+ Nature (4 projects – 5 million)

• MarPro (Universidade de Aveiro)

The MarPro project aims to successfully implement the NATURA 2000 network for the target cetacean and seabird species and their habitats throughout the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of mainland Portugal. It will reduce conflicts between fisheries and the target species in order to ensure compliance with the Habitats and Birds directives.

• Habitats Conservation (QUERCUS – ANCN)

This LIFE project’s objective is to demonstrate a methodology for the conservation of priority calcareous habitats in the Natura 2000 site, Serra de Aire e Candeeiros. The project aims to restore 1 000 ha of calcareous habitats and, indirectly, ensure the protection of non-priority habitats for the conservation of threatened flora and fauna.

• Life Ilhéus do Porto Sant (Serviço do Parque Natural da Madeira)

The principal objective of the Life Ilhéus do Porto Sant project is to remove threats to the natural ecosystems of the Natura 2000 site of the Porto Santo islets and to improve the conservation status of species endemic to this region. The project will research the distribution, density and conservation status of endangered species of seabirds, terrestrial molluscs, plants and arthropods in the project area.

• HIGRO (QUERCUS – ANCN)

The Higro project aims to define a methodology for the restoration and active conservation of the temperate Atlantic wet heaths and nardus grasslands on silicious substrates in mountainous areas. It aims to achieve an ecologically interesting balance of the two habitats in the mosaic, whilst maintaining or increasing their total occupation area.

LIFE+ Information and Communication (2 projects – 1.6 million)

• ECO-COMPATÍVEL (Serviço do Parque Natural da Madeira)

The overall long-term project objective is to reinforce, through educational and awareness activities, the compatibility of regional and territorial development in the Madeira Archipelago (i.e. socio-economic activities such as tourism, fisheries and agriculture) with EU biodiversity conservation policy (namely the management of nature reserves, sites, habitats and species listed in the Habitats and Birds directives).

• BIO+SINTRA (Parques de Sintra - Monte da Lua, S.A.)

The overall project objective is to develop a pilot experience for the Cultural Landscape of Sintra (transferable to other locations) aimed at changing people’s attitudes – targeting a decrease in carbon emissions to mitigate climate change, safeguarding local habitats and species and reducing biodiversity loss.

ROMANIA - 2 projects (1 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (1 project - 0.7 million)

• CLEANWATER (National Administration "Apele Romane" - National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management)

The Cleanwater project aims to develop, at the river-basin scale, an integrated water management system to identify waters under threat and designate vulnerable zones. This aims to provide the authorities with a means of developing effective river-basin management policies for the Barlad river and to assess their impact.

LIFE+ Nature (1 project – 0.3 million)

• STIPA (Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania)

The STIPA project aims to improve the conservation status of two priority dry grassland habitats in the Sighisoara -Tarnava Mare Nature 2000 site. The beneficiaries will carry out field assessments of the conservation status of 10 000 ha of priority grassland habitats. With this information - and in consultation with farmers and other stakeholders - they will develop conservation action plans for the targeted habitats.

SLOVAKIA - 2 projects (2.9 million)

LIFE+ Nature (2 projects – 2.9 million)

• AYBOTCON (Slovak Ornithological Society / BirdLife Slovakia (Slovenská ornitologická spolocnost / BirdLife Slovensko)

The core objective of this LIFE Nature project focuses on halting and reversing unfavourable populations trends for the bittern and ferruginous duck in eastern Slovakia, especially within the Medzibodrožie SPA which remains an important migration route and breeding area for these and other birds.

• APOMARINA_SK (Raptor Protection of Slovakia)

The main objective of this LIFE Nature project is to enhance the conservation status of the imperial eagle (Aquila pomarina) in Slovakia. This will be achieved by establishing favourable conditions in the short term for stabilising the Slovak breeding population of the species in the Carpathian eco-region.

SLOVENIA - 3 projects (9.8 million)

LIFE Nature and biodiversity (3 projects – 9.8 million) - LIFE+ Nature (2 projects)

• WETMAN

The overall goal of the project is to re-establish the favourable conservation status of eight targeted freshwater habitats and six wetland habitat SCIs. The project sites - Pohorje, Zelenci, Vrhe, Planik, Gornji kal and Mura-Petišovci (which are covered by by six SCIs and two SPAs) - contain different types of wetlands, all of which have suffered from a lack of appropriate management.

• MANSALT (SOLINE Pridelava soli d.o.o.)

The overall objective of the project is to improve the conservation status of target bird, reptile and fish species and target habitat types in the Natura 2000 site, Sečovlje salina.

LIFE+ Biodiversity (1 project)

• Life at Night (Euromis d.o.o.)

The overall objective of the project is to improve the conservation status and biodiversity of nocturnal animals at selected areas by reducing the negative effects of artificial lighting used for the illumination of cultural heritage sites.

SPAIN - 36 projects (94.8 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (27 projects – 60.7 million)

• CREAMAgua (Comarca de los Monegros)

This project aims to introduce ‘natural’ ecosystem structures of wetlands and riverbank forests to reduce inorganic nutrients - nitrates and phosphates - and salts from agricultural runoff in the entire Monegros area.

• CITROFUEL (CITROTECNO)

This project seeks to develop a new process to improve and optimise the management and sustainable use of natural resources and waste from citrus fruit production. The project intends to construct and run an industrial prototype for producing bio-ethanol from the biomass generated through citrus industrialisation by means of a new fermentation process.

• LASERFIRING (Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas)

The project intends to develop a new method for manufacturing structural ceramics using laser technology in the firing phase, which should allow firing at lower temperatures. In the particular case of refractory bricks, the new process will reduce the firing temperature from 1 300ºC to about 900ºC, without compromising aesthetic or structural properties.

• Soria CO2Cero (Ayuntamiento de Soria)

The Soria CO2Cero project intends to improve the environment of Soria and to fight against climate change with a series of strategic and legislative measures. Central to the project will be the creation of a corridor crossing the city and connecting different elements of its environmental and cultural heritage. The CO2Cero corridor will become a reference of municipal good practice on environmental sustainability and ecological culture.

• MIPOLARE (Dirección General de Industria, Energía y Minas. Consejería de Universidades, Empresa e Investigación de la Región de Murcia)

The main objective of the MIPOLARE project is to evaluate, demonstrate and disseminate an alternative sustainable solution for the reclamation of mining sites based on soil amendment using two waste products - pig slurry and marble mud - and phytostabilisation.

• ACCIÓN AGROCLIMÁTICA (Fundación Global Nature)

The Accion Agroclimatica project aims to develop a tool for carrying out energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) audits on farms, and for identifying the most suitable crops and best practices for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. It seeks to provide a methodology that will be widely accepted by the EU-27 farming sector and applicable to most of the different agricultural systems.

• The Green Deserts (Transfer Latin Business Consultancy S.L.)

The project’s main objective is to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of new tree planting techniques in desertified, poor and/or rocky areas. Innovative ‘waterbox’ technology will be applied to restore the sponge function of degraded soils and reinforce soils’ existing capacities for supporting plant life.

• BIOENERGY & FIRE PREV. (Ayuntamiento de Enguera)

The main objective of this project is to improve Enguera’s capacity to protect its forest resource from fire and demonstrate new win-win rural employment opportunities that provide environmental benefits. New forest management tools and approaches will be developed to minimise fire risks. The potential of biomass as a source of renewable energy and rural employment will also be tested and evaluated.

• VALUVOIL (CARTIF Foundation)

The VALUVOIL project aims to demonstrate an environmentally and economically feasible method to improve the anaerobic digestion of residues and by-products generated from the processing of used vegetable oil.

• MANEV (Sociedad de Desarrollo Medioambiental de Aragón (S.A.U.))

This project seeks to demonstrate that the application of treatment technology and an adequate management scheme to pig manure can both contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improve the sustainability of pig farming.

• WOODRUB (Asociación de Investigación y Desarrollo en la Industria del Mueble y Afines)

The main aim of the WOODRUB project is to develop, test and demonstrate innovative environmentally friendly products made from recycled wood and rubber from used tyres. The project will provide managers of wood and rubber waste with a new end-of-life route for their products, and offer public and private construction firms a more environmentally friendly product option.

• AG_UAS (Asociación de la Industria Navarra)

The project’s overall aim is to develop a cost-effective, spatial tool for more efficient, sustainable, water monitoring and management, in line with WFD requirements. It will produce a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) technology able to monitor extensive water areas and to provide data that could also be extrapolated to air and soil.

• GREENING BOOKS (Acondicionamiento Tarrasense)

The objective of the project GREENING BOOKS is to improve the environmental performance of the publishing sector. This project aims to develop an innovative instrument aimed at all stakeholders across the entire lifecycle of the publishing process, by integrating existing tools, such as Ecolabel, EMAS, Eco-design and LCA, as well as the latest technologies.

• ECOREGA (Unións Agrarias – UPA)

The aim of this project is to demonstrate good practices in the management of agricultural organic waste that can help to reduce the environmental impact of cattle farms and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Project actions will focus on using agricultural waste for composting and methane production. An innovative system is proposed that mixes liquid manure from cattle farms with other types of organic waste (swine, bird).

• ELVISUSTECH (Asociación de Investigación de las Industrias del Curtido y Anexas)

This project will develop and demonstrate an innovative sorting unit to solve the problems caused by dark plastics, rubber and other difficult materials during recycling. This equipment is designed to enable the achievement of the goals established in future legislation concerning the management of solid wastes from automotive, electric-electronic and other sectors at their end of life – contributing to a closer application of policies and legislation in terms of the ELV and WEEE directives.

• NOISEFREETEX (Asociación de Investigación de la Industria Textil)

The NOISEFREETEX project aims to validate demonstrative solutions to reduce noise pollution in industrial estates close to urban areas through the use of textile finishing technologies. The idea is to define specific textile materials that have interesting properties for sound absorption and use them as constructive elements in industrial facilities. The project will also test different kinds of finishing processes and improve material properties.

• EDEA-RENOV (Junta de Extremadura)

The purpose of the project is to test and propose concrete solutions for reducing the environmental impact of the housing construction sector. The project will focus on three main areas: renovation, innovation in new constructions, and the use of information and communication technology.

• UFTEC (Centro Tecnológico del Agua - Fundación Privada)

The LIFE+ UFTEC project aims to demonstrate the feasibility and economic viability in drinking water treatment plants of direct ultrafiltration (UF) pre-treatment for reverse osmosis as an alternative to conventional pre-treatment: coagulation-flocculation, sedimentation and sand filtration. The proposed alternative technology should reduce economic costs and the environmental impact related to chemical consumption as well as the water losses in conventional pre-treatment.

• ATLANTIC VINEYARDS (Diputación Provincial de Pontevedra)

The project aims to demonstrate the need and viability of sustainable management of wine production in the vineyards of the Rías Baixas within an integrated system. It will create an ‘Integrated Control System to Minimise the Environmental Risks’ based on a net of meteorological sensors located in vineyards, in order to minimise the use of chemical products to those strictly necessary.

• LOS TOLLOS (Consejería de Medio Ambiente - Junta de Andalucía)

The project’s objective is to restore the soil in the endorheic basin of la laguna de Los Tollos in order to restore the topography and recover the degraded soil in the old lake basin and surrounding areas. Other objectives are to eliminate the connection between the surface aquifer (saline) and the freshwater aquifer and re-establish surface hydrology processes.

• CLEANFEED (Dirección Industrias Alimentarias - Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Planificación territorial, Agricultura y Pesca)

The project proposes the development of a prototype to automatically separate food waste from its packaging, thus increasing the amount of vegetable waste that may be commercially reused. Another key objective of the project is to design, prove and validate an action plan to make use of the vegetal food surplus generated in food retailing by transforming it into animal feed. The proposed approach involves demonstrating an innovative methodology to recover vegetal food wastes in a hygienic way.

• DEMONSTRATION OF KDV TECH (Sanea Tratamiento de Residuos, S.L.U.)

The project aims to develop the first full-scale demonstration of catalytic depolymerisation technology for the processing of municipal solid waste (MSW) produced in Catalonia. The demonstration plant will be capable of treating up to 30 000 tonnes/yr of mixed MSW and the catalytic depolymerisation technology aims to convert mixed biodegradable MSW into a synthetic diesel, which can replace conventional diesel.

• DOMOTIC (Fundación San Valero)

The main objective of the DOMOTIC project is to demonstrate and quantify the CO2 emissions reduction potential of using intelligent technologies and models of construction in buildings. The project will introduce three models of the latest generation of house automation into three demonstration buildings of different types.

• SustainGraph (Asociación Industrial de Óptica, Color)

The SustainGraph project aims to develop an eTool for assessing the environmental impact of graphics products throughout their life-cycle. It will identify and promote good practice in the development of new, sustainable graphics products and services in order to guide European SMEs.

• RECYCLED-PVB (Fundación Lurederra)

The Recycled-PVB project aims to develop a pilot plant to demonstrate the purification of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) from laminated glass. The overall objective is to help find a practical and sustainable use for waste glass from vehicles. It will develop knowledge about the specific equipment and technical characteristics required for washing, grinding and processing PVB.

• Radio-electric Governance (Centre de Telecomunicacions I Tecnologies de la Información)

The main objective of the project is to increase information and understanding of electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by radio communication stations. The project will draw up an inventory of radio communication infrastructure across Catalonia and will monitor and evaluate the EMF generated by this infrastructure, thus providing information for both local authorities and the general public about their strength and impact on health.

• CONNECT (Colegio Oficial de Ingenieros Técnicos de La Rioja)

The main goal of this project is to promote the progressive deployment of electric vehicles as an alternative means of urban mobility. The Connect project will establish a pilot network of five ‘zero-emission’ electric recharging points for electric vehicles. These points will be fully fuelled by renewable energy and should provide a 75% more favourable ‘global ecologic balance’ than recharging from the mains supply.

LIFE+ Nature and Biodibersity (8 projects – 31.8 million) - LIFE+Nature (6 projects)

• UROGALLO CANTABRICO (Fundación Biodiversidad)

This LIFE Nature project’s objective is to improve the conservation status of the Cantabrian capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus cantabricus). Conservation works will target the Natura 2000 network sites that are being designated in the Cantabrian Mountains and so also benefit the birds’ habitat, as well as other allied species. Project outcomes are anticipated to improve the connectivity and functionality of the capercaillie’s habitat.

• MARGAL ULLA (Xunta de Galícia - Consellería do Medio Rural)

The overall objective of this LIFE Nature project is to help improve the conservation status of Margaritifera margaritifera and Galemys pyrenaicus in the Ulla river basin, and establish suitable conditions for recovery of the original populations.

• Δ-LAGOON (Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries)

The main goal of the project is to improve the ecological status of the Alfacada and Tancada lagoons through habitat restoration and management measures, such as improvement of hydrological function, elimination of infrastructure that interferes with connectivity, and creation of new lagoon habitats in existing rice fields and abandoned aquaculture facilities.

• Life Posidonia Andalucia (Consejería de Medio Ambiente - Junta de Andalucía)

This LIFE Nature project’s main objective is to improve the conservation status of Neptune grass (Posidonia oceanica) meadows. This will be achieved by undertaking studies and applying protection measures. Threats to the ecosystems (including pollution, boat anchoring, uncontrolled trawling and traditional local fishing and the expansion of exotic invasive species) will be investigated and mechanisms assessed for mitigating negative impacts on the meadows. Further studies will clarify the broader benefits linked to the meadows, plus the costs of their loss, such as impacts on fish populations, beach regeneration and deterioration of tourist attractions.

• OXYURA LEUCOCEPHALA-MURCI (Consejería de Agricultura y Agua)

This project is dedicated to the conservation of the white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala) in the wetlands of Murcia. It aims to improve understanding of the breeding habitat of the species, extend and conserve its habitat and reduce the impact of humans and other species.

• TERRITORIO VISÓN (Gestión Ambiental, Viveros y Repoblaciones de Navarra, S.A.)

This project aims to significantly enhance the biodiversity of the lower reaches of the Aragon and Arga Rivers – an area of high population density of European mink (Mustela lutreola) in western Europe – by improving the conservation status of the species and restoring the fluvial ecosystems on which it depends.

LIFE+ Biodiversity (2 projects)

• LIFE TRACHEMYS (Conselleria de medio Ambiente, Agua, Urbanismo y Vivienda – Generalitat Valenciana

The main aim of this LIFE Biodiversity project is to address the negative environmental impacts on wetland environments from alien exotic turtle species, particularly the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta). A strategy will be developed to preserve aquatic endangered species of endemic fish and autochthonous freshwater turtles in Valencia and Portugal by eradicating wild populations of exotic invasive freshwater turtles.

• Innovation against poison (Fundación Gypaetus)

This project seeks to implement, monitor, assess and spread innovative and demonstrative actions that significantly improve current strategies for combating illegal poisoning in the EU. The overall goal is to significantly improve the conservation status of endangered species affected by the illegal use of poison at EU level, especially of those whose primary non-natural cause of death is illegal poisoning.

LIFE+ Information and Communication (1 project – 2.2 million)

• BIOCxLIFE (Fundación Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente)

The overall objective of the BIOCxLIFE project is to promote the production and consumption of products that allow citizens to contribute to stopping the loss of biodiversity.

SWEDEN - 9 projects (34.7 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (7 projects - 20.9 million)

• GREECIT (City of Umeå)

The main objective of this project is to set up a number of actions that will demonstrate methods and techniques that inspire and motivate people to change their behaviour and become part of a process to develop more sustainable city management policies and governance.

• CLIRE (Region Skåne)

The CLIRE project aims demonstrate ways of dramatically reducing the carbon footprint of the health sector in Skåne, in line with EU objectives in relation to climate change. The project seeks to: improve the procurement system so that products with a low carbon footprint will have a better chance of winning public tenders; establish a demonstration facility (‘the sustainable treatment room’) and a working methodology that can be employed by health clinics; and increase the use of renewable energy sources in hospitals, clinics and other health facilities.

• BIOGASSYS (Kommunförbundet Skåne)

The overall aim of the project is to demonstrate the potential of biogas to become a major contributor to energy production in Europe and an important tool in mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. BIOGASSYS will demonstrate a sustainable system for biogas production and provide solutions and best practices that can be used to combat critical stages of the biogas life cycle.

• LICC (Malmö Stad)

The Climate Living in Cities Concept (CLICC) project will show how citizens may reduce their carbon footprint in the areas of housing, transport, and food and consumer goods. It seeks to reduce the carbon footprint of the city’s inhabitants by 50% and thus contribute to the wider EU objective of combating climate change.

• Mare Purum (Ekomarine AB)

The main objective of this LIFE project is to demonstrate the long term reduction of marine fouling using an environmentally-friendly hull paint, based on Ekomarine’s patented technique. The project will be performed in waters with varying salinity, temperature, depth, and other conditions.

• Pure Energy Separator (Alfa Laval Tumba AB)

The project will demonstrate and evaluate an innovative continuous ejection technology, based on a new method of expelling sludge from a separator. The system does not require any process water and therefore the sludge will be concentrated and dry. The result will be that more than 90% of the waste oil can be reused. The volume of oil going for incineration will then be reduced, which is in line with the objectives of the Directive for the Disposal of Waste Oils (75/439/EEC).

• DYEMOND SOLAR (NLAB Solar AB)

This project seeks to demonstrate a cost-effective means of producing transparent Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSCs), based on a patented technology that uses one-dimensional photonic crystals (1DPCs) to improve the efficiency and colour of solar cells. The demonstrated prototype production system will be a pre-industrial-scale system.

LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity (2 projects – 13.8 million) - LIFE+ Nature (1 project)

• GRACE (County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland (Länsstyrelsen i Västra Götalands län))

The main aim of this project is to restore specific habitat types to favourable conservation status within 23 Natura 2000 sites associated with the Swedish archipelago in the Counties of Västra Götaland, Halland, Blekinge and Stockholm. A partnership approach between the four counties is expected to provide operational efficiencies and increase understanding about nature conservation activity in coastal habitats.

LIFE+ Biodiversity (1 project)

• MIRDINEC (Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management)

The objectives of this project focus on halting the loss of EU biodiversity, particularly in wetland areas, caused by the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides). An early warning system will be established to track immigration of raccoon dogs and innovative culling/management methods will be applied to control the species.

UNITED KINGDOM - 6 projects (16.4 million)

LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance (4 projects – 12.4 million)

• SSCM4ECAP (Buckinghamshire County Council)

The project will develop an innovative ‘bottom-up’ approach to Green Public Procurement. It will demonstrate the use of supply-chain strategies to improve the environmental performance of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and achieve local authority sustainability targets.

• EDOC (The Environment Agency of England and Wales)

The Electronic Duty of Care (EDOC) project intends to develop a national, Internet-based interface to record the collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste materials. This aims to enable the monitoring and mapping of waste management without creating a mountainous paper trail.

• iGREEN (The Environment Agency of England and Wales)

The iGreen project will demonstrate how environmental guidance for SMEs can be taken to the next level by developing joined-up service provision through the NetRegs website. It will deliver innovative solutions around intelligence gathering, product creation, and dissemination of environmental information and messages through multimedia and multiple channels. Tools will include a legislation generator for Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and environmental e-Learning tools for six different industries.

• Hydro4LIFE (International Hydropower Association)

The main aim of this project is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP) and consolidate knowledge on hydropower sustainability performance in the EU. The project also aims to raise awareness and build capacity - primarily via an electronic outreach campaign - about the HSAP and hydropower sustainability performance among all relevant stakeholders, including Member State/EU regulators and policymakers.

LIFE+ Nature (1 project - 2.2 million)

• Reintroducing Otis tarda (Reintroducing the great bustard Otis tarda to southern England)

This project aims to increase the population of great bustards on Salisbury Plain by extending the reintroduction programme to support the establishment of a self-sustaining population over the longer term.

LIFE+ Information and communication (1 project - 1.8 million)

• RESTORE (Environment Agency for England & Wales)

The project will develop a network linking policymakers, river basin planners, practitioners and experts across Europe to share information and good practice on river restoration activities. A database of river restoration projects will be created, providing understanding of policy opportunities and constraints, the effectiveness of restoration methods, design issues and project costs/benefits.