LIFE+ - European funding for nature protection

The European funding programme LIFE+ (L`Instrument Financier pour l`Environment: PromouvoirL'UnionSoutenable – The financing instrument for environment : Funding of a sustainable European Union) supports exclusively the interests of environmental protection.

The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental policy and legislation. The inclusion of environmental aspects in other political areas and a sustainable development within the EU shall be faciliated. Since 1992 more than 3100 projects across the EU, with a total contribution in excess of ¤2 billion have been co-financed covering the three components:
• LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity,
• LIFE+ Environment Policy & Governance,
• LIFE+ Information & Communication.

LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity is applied to realize and develop the European network of nature reserves "NATURA 2000".
NATURA 2000 is the network of protected areas of the European Union. It consists of Special Areas of Conservation designated for species other than birds (Habitats Directive - COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora) and Special Protection Areas for birds (Birds Directive - DIRECTIVE 2009/147/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds).
Thus typical, special, rare and threatened habitats but also species of animals and plants are to be protected in Europe. Member States of the European Union have a common responsibility for the conservation of typical landscapes and of biodiversity. Accordingly in Germany around 14% of the terrestrial area and 31% of marine area are designated as NATURA 2000 sites.