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LIFE-Nature Seminar Czech & Slovak Republics 13 June 2005
Disclaimer:
This Powerpoint presentation is made to assist potential applicants with the preparation of the LIFE-Nature application.
Please note that this presentation is based upon my long-term experience with LIFE-Nature projects but that the Guidelines to prepare the LIFE-Nature Application File (available from the Commission website) provide you with the formally official information.
Geert Raeymaekers, NLI
Nature Link2
LIFE-Nature Seminar Czech & Slovak Republics 13 June 2005
History and objectives of LIFE-Nature Useful to apply for LIFE-Nature support? Actions that can be funded Actions that can not be funded Before you start filling in the application formsThe LIFE-Nature application The selection procedure
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HISTORY & OBJECTIVES OF LIFE-NATURE
LIFE is THE European Environment Fund since 1992
to implement European Environment Action Programmes
Fundamental research
DG research
Demonstration, experimentation
pump priming
Long term management
DG Environment Structural funds
Cohesion funds
Rural Development.
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HISTORY & OBJECTIVES OF LIFE-NATURE
LIFE I 1992 - 1995 400 million �LIFE II 1996 - 1999 450 million �LIFE III 2000 - 2004 640 million �
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
LIFE I LIFE II LIFE III
Mill
ion �
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HISTORY & OBJECTIVES OF LIFE-NATURE
� Actions to maintain or to restore natural habitats and populations of wild fauna and flora
Nature
47% of the budget
ENVIRONMENT 3rd Countries
Development of innovative and
integrated techniques in the
environmental sector
Technical assistance for building capacity and administrative structures in the
environmental sector and for developing environment policy
47% of the budget 6% of the budget
LIFE III
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LIFE-Nature Seminar Czech & Slovak Republics 13 June 2005
History and objectives of LIFE-Nature Useful to apply for LIFE-Nature support? Actions that can be funded Actions that can not be funded Before you start filling in the application formsThe LIFE-Nature application The selection procedure
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USEFUL TO APPLY FOR LIFE-NATURE SUPPORT?
LIFE-Nature: to restore and manage Natura2000 areas and its species of European importance
Project for Natura 2000 areas Project for habitat types (Annex I Habit. Directive)Project for species (Annex II and / or IV of Habitats
Directive); (Annex 1 Birds of Birds Directive)Project addressing a threat to species and/or habitat
types.Public awareness raising
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USEFUL TO APPLY FOR LIFE-NATURE SUPPORT?
The LIFE-project should address a real threat to the species and should improve the state of conservation
Use the �Step by Step Guide� to better
Identify the problems to be targeted Identify the actionsIdentify the means, constraints, Plan the project actions Identify concrete deliverables
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USEFUL TO APPLY FOR LIFE-NATURE SUPPORT?
Results sustainable and
long-lasting Success of a
projectOrganisational capacity sufficient
Risks properly evaluated and
taken into account
Objectives and actions realistic
and defined
Problems identified and
addressed
Proper planning
Nature Link10
LIFE-Nature Seminar Czech & Slovak Republics 13 June 2005
History and objectives of LIFE-Nature Useful to apply for LIFE-Nature support?
Actions that can be funded Actions that can not be funded Before you start filling in the application formsThe LIFE-Nature application The selection procedure
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ACTIONS THAT CAN BE FUNDED
These actions fall into 6 categories:
A Preparatory measuresB Land / lease or land purchaseC Restoration measures ( = the non-
recurring biotope management)D Recurring biotope managementE Public awarenessF Project management
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ACTIONS THAT CAN BE FUNDED
Categories A and B:
A Preparatory measures Preparatory inventories, technical documents, permits needed,
administrative or legal procedures, set up of advisory committees Management plans
B Land lease or purchase Purchase of land Lease rights of farmers, foresters, hunters Peat extraction rights
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ACTIONS THAT CAN BE FUNDED
Categories C and D:
C Non-Recurring measures Removal of scrub to restore grasslands Blocking drainage ditches in bogs Set-up ex situ conservation measures for wild flora Protecting hibernating areas for bat species Removal of dikes to improve river dynamics
D Recurring management measures Purchase of equipment to mow grasslands
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ACTIONS THAT CAN BE FUNDED
Categories E and F:
E Public awareness measures Internet web site (obligatory) Information panels (obligatory) Networking with other LIFE-Nature projects Workshops, seminars, conferences Media work
F Overall project operation Project co-ordination Preparation of technical progress reports and financial statements Financial audit (obligatory) Monitoring of habitats and species
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ACTIONS THAT CAN BE FUNDED: an example
Example of actions in one project: Management plans for existing nature reserves Preparation of marine protected area Purchase of private land, Demolition of former military harbour to restore salt marshes Digging of ponds for Annex I amphibians Purchase of cattle to graze grasslands Preventing poplars and other trees to re-colonising dunes Control of irregular fishing and recreation which affects target
habitat types and species Preparation and printing of brochures Field manual for stranded sea mammals (seals, harbour
porpoises)
Nature Link16
LIFE-Nature Seminar Czech & Slovak Republics 13 June 2005
History and objectives of LIFE-Nature Useful to apply for LIFE-Nature support?
Actions that can be funded Actions that can not be funded Before you start filling in the application formsThe LIFE-Nature application The selection procedure
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ACTIONS THAT CAN NOT BE FUNDED
Article 22 of the Common Provisions lists the actions that cannot be funded by LIFE-Nature: for example:
Actions not targeting bird species of the birds directive Too expensive measures Actions for which other EU-support possible Voluntary workers The construction of some major infrastructures Interest losses, bad debts,
Nature Link18
LIFE-Nature Seminar Czech & Slovak Republics 13 June 2005
History and objectives of LIFE-Nature Useful to apply for LIFE-Nature support?
Actions that can be funded Actions that can not be funded Before you start filling in the application formsThe LIFE-Nature application The selection procedure
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BEFORE YOU FILL IN THE APPLICATION FORMS
You already checked the:
annexes of the Habitats & Birds Directive
Natura 2000 perimeter the Step by Step Guide
Now, carefully read the:
The guidelines in the Application File The Common Provisions
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BEFORE YOU FILL IN THE APPLICATION FORMS
CONSULT THE DG ENVIRONMENT WEB-SITE !http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/life/nature/index.htm
� Application forms, Step to Step Guide, Common Provisions� Habitats & Birds Directives� Action Plans for Bird Species� IUCN � guidelines for re-introduction� Management Plan Guidelines (Galway Seminar 1996)� Etc�
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BEFORE YOU FILL IN THE APPLICATION FORMS
The LIFE-Nature 2005 Application guidelines useful addresses & website info information on which projects can be financed (NA1,
NA2, NA3 � projects, restoration, re-introduction) the conditions for co-financing (% co-financing LIFE) how & when to submit your project obligatory documents per form, specific recommendations financial hints information on selection procedure list of important references
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BEFORE YOU FILL IN THE APPLICATION FORMS
Common Provisions (= Standard Administra-tive Provisions)
Role of the participantsReporting to the CommissionChanges to the projectEligible and non-eligible costsPaymentsSpecial provisions for LIFE-Nature (Natura 2000 and
purchase of land)
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BEFORE YOU FILL IN THE APPLICATION FORMS
Common Provisions : legal & administrative provisions
Agreements between participants (art 4.7)Partners cannot be supplier or sub-contractor (art 59)Competitive tenders (art 6.5)Preliminary interim and final reports Agreement in advance for all changes.Agreement in writing for substantial changes.
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BEFORE YOU FILL IN THE APPLICATION FORMS
Common Provisions : financial provisionsNo double financing (art 20.2)Temporary personnel and civi servant costsPartners cannot be supplier or sub-contractor
(art 59)Travel and subsistence costs (art 21.3)External assistance (art 21.4)Depreciation of durable goods (art 21.6)Overheads now a flat rate of 7% (art 21.12)
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LIFE-Nature Seminar Czech & Slovak Republics 13 June 2005
History and objectives of LIFE-Nature Useful to apply for LIFE-Nature support?
Actions that can be funded Actions that can not be funded Before you start filling in the application forms
The LIFE-N ature application The selection procedure
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THE LIFE-Nature APPLICATION FORM
A1 to A12
B1 to B9
C1 to C12
F: Excell sheets
A. Project Summary & adminstrative info
B. Scientific data> Habitats, species, problems, threats
C. Objective, actions and expected results / Project planning > Objectives, activities, expected results
F. Financial forms> Excell sheet
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THE LIFE-Nature APPLICATION FORM
Issues to watch out for: co-financing (max 50% or max 75%)formal receivability and eligibility Loss and profit account & balance sheetscost effectivenesscompatibility with other EU-Funds restoration outside protected areas
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THE LIFE-Nature APPLICATION FORM
Conservation value emphasis on priority habitats/species also strategic non-priority habitat/species extent to which addresses threat demonstration, pump-prime effect contributing to Natura 2000
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THE LIFE-Nature APPLICATION FORM
Socio-economic context Vital for success of project - cooperation
early on leads to concrete results
partnerships strongly encouraged
involvement of local stakeholders even better!
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THE LIFE-Nature APPLICATION FORM
Elements of successclearly described problems, objectives &
actions - a coherent proposalconservation benefit - cost/effectivenessstrong emphasis on partnership development of sustainable solutions dissemination of best practices
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THE LIFE-Nature APPLICATION FORM
Elements of failureformal requirements were not metInsufficiently protected areaslow conservation benefitlow quality and coherence of proposallow feasibility of proposed measures
Nature Link32
LIFE-Nature Seminar Czech & Slovak Republics 13 June 2005
History and objectives of LIFE-Nature Useful to apply for LIFE-Nature support?
Actions that can be funded Actions that can not be funded Before you start filling in the application forms
The LIFE-Nature application The selection procedure
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THE SELECTION PROCEDURE
Selection stage: Eligibility. date, 2 copies, signatures, use of standard forms, not
hand written, summary in English, NGOs: loss & profit accounts, external audit report
Technical soundness: reliability of applicant & partners, proposal aiming at conservation measures (FFH and BD) conformity with Natura 2000 maps;
Financial soundness: bankruptcy, audits of EU-institutions, financial incapacity, applicant and partners provide financial support to the project;
3. Award phase I: Conservation benefit: EU-importance, networking, best
practice, .... Socio-economic / operational context: partnership, supported
by nat�l programmes,
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THE SELECTION PROCEDURE
4. Award phase II. Technical coherence of the project:
step-by-step guide (feasibility, value for money...
Financial coherence and quality: costs well explained and related to project measures;
Community interest: importance of project at EU-level.
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THE SELECTION PROCEDURE
5. Revision phase � question time: budgetary questions will have to be clarified:
Budget cuts: reduction in co-financing rate, non-eligible measures Budget questions: clarifications needed to assess whether measures
are eligible.6. Habitat Committee7. Submission of the Revised Application.
Be ready to answer questions during the �Revision phase - questiontime�!
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THE SELECTION PROCEDURE
The agenda 30.09.05 Applications at Dept. Nature, Min. Env. 31.10.05 deadline receipt proposals at EC Evaluation exercise Assessment of application files �Question time� ca .05.06 Habitat Committee Meeting �Revision phase� ca 07.06 Grant Agreement ca 09.06 Advance payments
Nature Link37
LIFE-Nature Seminar Czech & Slovak Republics 13 June 2005
History and objectives of LIFE-NatureActions that can be fundedActions that can not be fundedBefore you apply for LIFE-Nature supportThe LIFE-Nature applicationThe selection procedure
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AND FINALLY ��
NATURE LINK INTERNATIONAL Has been monitoring LIFE-Nature projects in 16 European
countries on behalf of European Commission provides an informal link between Commission and
beneficiary during project - but strictly only in an advisory capacity
undertakes technical reviews to help promote better dissemination of results and networking
A new external team will follow-up the projects as of October 2005.
Contact point: Geert Raeymaekers, Brusselstel 0032-2-646 69 50, fax 0032-2-646 84 66, E-mail: [email protected]