Three environmental projects from Ireland have been awarded a total of €11.7 million in funding under the LIFE+ programme, the European Union’s environment fund. In total, the European Commission today approved funding for 225 new projects around Europe under the LIFE+ programme. The projects cover actions in the fields of nature conservation, climate change, environmental policy and information and communication on environmental issues across the EU.
The three Irish projects are:
• WISER LIFE run by The Rediscovery Centre Ltd. in Ballymun, Dublin has been awarded €3.6 million under the LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance category. The project will demonstrate best practice in waste reuse and preparation for reuse.
In the LIFE+ Nature category two projects have been awarded €8.1 million:
• LIFE Kerry, run by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, aims to improve the conservation status of pearl mussels on the catchments of the rivers Caragh and Blackwater which form part of the Killarney National Park.
• The Raptor LIFE project run by IRD Duhallow Ltd in Co. Cork is working is to restore hen harrier populations and enhance habitats for a range of species.
Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said: “In the final year of the current programming period, the LIFE+ programme once again demonstrates its ability to deliver essential financial support for environmental and nature conservation projects with significant added value for the EU. These latest projects will make a vital contribution to the preservation, conservation and enhancement of Europe’s natural capital, as well as helping to achieve sustainable growth through investment in a low carbon and resource efficient economy. The widely acknowledged success of LIFE+ and its projects has ensured the recent adoption of a new LIFE Regulation for Environment and Climate Action, with an increased budget, for the period 2014-2020”.
Background
LIFE+ is the European financial instrument for the environment and has a total budget of €2.1 billion for the period 2007-2013. The Commission launched one call for LIFE+ project proposals per year.
The LIFE programme will continue from 2014-2020 under the new LIFE Regulation for Environment and Climate Action. The programme has a total budget for the period of €3.4 billion in December 2013 prices, and will have a sub-programme for environment and a sub-programme for climate action.
View LIFE+: European Commission provides €282.6 million for 225 new environment and climate projects
WISER LIFE (The Rediscovery Centre Ltd. ): The project will demonstrate best practice in waste reuse and preparation for reuse through the creation of an innovative centre demonstrating excellence in reuse at every level of interaction, supported by an eco-cluster of resource-efficient enterprises, and complemented by a suite for environmental education, training and research programmes. Contact: tara@rediscoverycentre.ie
LIFE Kerry (Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht ): The project aims to improve the conservation status of pearl mussels on the catchments of the rivers Caragh and Blackwater (Kerry) which form part of the Killarney National Park, included in the Natura 2000 network sites (Macgillycuddy’s Reeks and Caragh River Catchment, and Blackwater River (Kerry)) by the development and implementation of effective and cost-efficient measures for reducing diffuse losses of sediment and nutrients from forestry and farming. Contact: niall.redmond@ahg.gov.ie
Raptor LIFE (IRD Duhallow Ltd ): The objective of the project is to restore hen harrier ( Circus cyaneus ) populations and enhance habitats for a range of species included in Annex I of the Birds Directive and Annex II of the Habitats Directive. This will be done by restoring habitat across a range of land use types through an integrated network of actions in south-west Ireland focusing on the Mullaghareirk Mountains, West Limerick Hills and Mount Eagle and the Blackwater River Natura 2000 network sites. Contact: duhallow@eircom.net
Source: envirocentre.ie