OREANDA-NEWS. January 28, 2016. LIFE Integrated Projects Environment(3 projects – € 52.4 million)

These are Integrated projects contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the: Water Framework Directive by implementing all or part of a River Basin Management Plan; or Air Directive by implementing Air Quality Plans.

GERMANY (€ 15.7 million)

Living River Lahn (HMUKLV - Hessian Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection, Agriculture and Consumer Protection): The project aims to contribute to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in order to achieve “good ecological status" for surface waters in the catchment area of the Lahn River, an eastern tributary of the Rhine. Living River Lahn will pilot the alternative uses of inland waterways that previously gave priority to waterborne transport. It will demonstrate an integrated multi-stakeholder approach to managing the Lahn catchment, which crosses several administrative boundaries, improving the ecosystem services it provides. Restoration of near-natural conditions will improve the Lahn’s ecological status and biodiversity and create opportunities for sustainable tourism. The project will also create water retention areas and identify pollution sources to improve water quality. Lessons from and concepts developed by the project will be applicable to other regions and catchment areas in Europe. In addition to the IP budget itself the project will facilitate the coordinated use of around € 28 million in complementary funding from EAFRD and national funds.

POLAND (€ 16.7 million)

LIFE-IP MA?OPOLSKA (Wojew?dztwo Ma?opolskie): The aim of this project is the implementation of an air quality plan that was approved by the parliament of the Ma?opolska region of Poland in 2013. The Ma?opolska Air Quality Plan (MAQP) stipulates the removal of 155 000 obsolete and highly-polluting solid fuel boilers. The project approach and results will be directly relevant to all authorities responsible for air quality in the air pollution hotspots of southern Poland, the northern Czech Republic and Slovakia. Specific aims include removing barriers to the mobilisation of funding for replacing obsolete coal boilers and retrofitting more efficient heating systems for houses, building local capacity (through ‘eco-managers’ and a centre of excellence). Awareness will be raised about how to improve air quality and improve regional cooperation through joint activities in establishing emission inventories and modeling, as well as exchange of experiences in the area of air quality improvement. In addition to the IP budget itself the project will facilitate the coordinated use of € 798 million of complementary funding from the ERDF, National and Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management and national and private funds, as applicable.

UK (€ 20.0 million)

LIFE-IP RBMP-NWRBD UK (Environment Agency): The project’s objective is to substantially increase the capacity to deliver improvement in water body status in the North West (England) River Basin District, which includes one-third of the poorest quality rivers in England and Wales. In particular, the project will address barriers holding back the achievement of “good ecological status" for the region’s water bodies, as required by the Water Framework Directive. The project aims to build stakeholder capacity, reduce policy conflicts, identify water and flood management measures that produce multiple benefits – thus allowing greater use of relevant funds – and improve knowledge and uptake of innovative measures such as natural flood management and sustainable drainage systems. The project will provide mechanisms to upscale its successes to England and Member State level. In addition to the IP budget itself the project will facilitate the coordinated use of some € 229 million of complementary funding from the EAFRD, ERDF, national funds and the private sector, as applicable. This includes € 52.5 million of private sector funding.

LIFE Integrated Projects Nature (3 projects – € 56.3 million)

These are Integrated projects contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives (Natura 2000 network) and to achieving target 1 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy by implementing the Prioritised Action Frameworks (PAFs), which are priorities for managing and implementing the Natura 2000 network.

BELGIUM (€ 19.0 million)

BNIP – Belgian Nature Integrated Project (Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos): The objective of the project is to implement Prioritised Action Framework (PAF) targets for the Natura 2000 network in Belgium, through improved governance, capacity building and collaboration between the Flemish, Walloon and Federal authorities. The project aims to improve stakeholder involvement, and to implement specific objectives such as developing integrated site management plans and monitoring programmes. In addition to the IP budget itself the project will facilitate the coordinated use of € 203 millionof complementary funding from the EAFRD, ERDF, national and private funds, as applicable.

FINLAND (€ 20.0 million)

FRESHABIT LIFE-IP (Mets?hallitus, Parks & Wildlife Finland): The project aims to improve the ecological status, management and sustainable use of freshwater Natura 2000 sites in Finland, by tackling the problems they face at catchment level. The project will develop and demonstrate, in eight regional Natura 2000 networks, new biodiversity and ecosystem service indicators, with a focus on reviving populations of the key indicator species freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera), alongside modelling methodologies for assessing the status of freshwater habitats. In addition to the IP budget itself the project will facilitate the coordinated use of € 4.3 millionof complementary funding from the EAFRD, ERDF, national and private funds, as applicable.

ITALY (€ 17.3 million)

LIFE IP GESTIRE 2020 (Regione Lombardia): The objective of the project is the creation of an integrated management structure for achieving conservation objectives, set out in the Habitats and Birds directives, for the Natura 2000 regional network in Lombardy. The project aims to coordinate management; integrate regional policies; train personnel working in Natura 2000 areas; raise public awareness; and plan interventions to conserve biodiversity, such as enhancing connectivity and tackling invasive alien species. In addition to the IP budget itself the project will facilitate the coordinated use of € 83.2 million of complementary funding from EAFRD, ERDF, national funds and public and private institutions. This includes € 5.8 million of private sector funding.