LIFE Nature: 94 new projects selected for 1999

This year the main beneficiaries are NGOs and public authorities, especially local and regional authorities. The main part of the financed projects aim at conservation of different kinds of natural habitats.

In 1999 the Commission received 229 project proposals for nature conservation, of which 65 % were found to be eligible. Out of these, 94 have been granted financing based on the Commission’s evaluation and the opinion of the Habitats Committee of Member States representatives.

NGO’s were granted 24 % of the total budget. The remaining part was granted to public authorities, especially local institutions (municipalities, regional authorities and park administrations representing together 41 %). Part of the projects undertaken by public authorities do actively involve NGO’s, thus increasing their real share of LIFE-Nature financing.

The total investment cost for all the selected projects is euro 135.6 million. An estimate of 800-900 full time jobs will be co-financed for the next three years. A significant part of these will be new jobs.

More detailed information on the new projects will be available on the LIFE-Nature Homepage (linked below).