The LIFE Programme is the EU’s financial instrument for supporting environmental, nature protection and climate action projects across the EU
Since 1992, LIFE has co-financed some 3954 projects, contributing around €3.1 trillion to environmental and climate protection. The overall objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and legislation for the co-financing of projects with European added value.
The LIFE Programme contributes to sustainable development and to the achievement of the general and specific objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Union’s 7th Environmental Action Programme and other European environmental and climate strategies and plans.
The Environment Sub-Programme covers three priority areas:
- Environment and Resource Efficiency
- Nature and Biodiversity
- Environmental Governance and Information
The Sub-Programme Climate Action covers three priority areas:
- Climate Change Mitigation
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Climate Governance and Information
Natura 2000 is the main instrument of European Union policy for the conservation of biodiversity. It is a Union-wide ecological network established under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC to ensure the long-term maintenance of threatened or rare natural habitats and species of flora and fauna at Community level.
The areas that make up the Natura 2000 network are not strictly protected reserves where human activities are excluded; the Habitats Directive aims to ensure nature protection while also “taking into account economic, social and cultural requirements as well as regional and local particularities” (Art. 2). Private parties can own Natura 2000 sites, ensuring their sustainable management both ecologically and economically.
Like all LIFE projects, ShepForBio actively contributes to the promotion and dissemination of the Natura 2000 network. In fact, numerous meetings and dissemination and educational activities are planned within the project (Action E) that will increase the awareness of citizenship on the objectives of the Network and more generally on the themes of sustainable development and biodiversity conservation.
EU: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm