United kingdom update final oct13

LIFE programme - Country Factsheet

UNITED KINGDOM Overview Since the launch of the LIFE programme by the European Commission in 1992, a total of 216 projects have been co-financed in the United Kingdom. Of these, 155 focus on environmental innovation, 55 on nature conservation and six on information and communication. These projects represent a total investment of €430 million, of which €193 million has been contributed by the European Union.

This document provides an overview of LIFE in the United

Every year a call for project proposals is launched for

Kingdom.

its three components: Nature and Biodiversity,

It showcases success stories and ongoing initiatives,

Environment Policy and Governance, and Information and Communication.

indicates how to find further

You will find more details on these and all recent LIFE

information on the projects

projects in the United Kingdom in the annexed lists.

and provides a list of recent projects in Annex.

Last update: 17/10/13

European Commission, DG Environment – LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Environment Policy and Governance To date, the LIFE Environment component (now called Environment Policy and Governance) has co-financed 155 projects in the United Kingdom. These projects represent a total investment of €274 million, of which €112 million has been contributed by the European Union.

Completed projects mainly targeted environmentally-sound urban design, quality of life and transport planning; sensitive area management (coastal); clean technologies; water supply, water quality and water resource protection; river basin management; groundwater protection; waste water treatment; green public procurement; as well as risk assessment and pollution control. Most of the projects were implemented by local and national authorities, international enterprises, SMEs, universities, NGOs, research institutions and development agencies. The projects had an average duration of 30 to 48 months.

There are 18 ongoing LIFE Environment Policy and Governance projects in the UK. These projects are focusing on themes such as sustainable building; sensitive area management (coastal); risk assessment and pollution control; clean technologies, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; integrated environmental management; general waste management; land-use planning; forest management; and adaptation to climate change. The project beneficiaries are six NGOs, seven regional authorities, two research institutions, one public enterprise, one university and one professional organisation. The expected project durations range from 24 to 60 months.

Presented in the box below is an example of a successful LIFE Environment project from the United Kingdom.

This project has been awarded the title of Best LIFE Environment project in 2010.

Bringing the OpenMI-Life (OpenMI-LIFE) LIFE06/ENV/UK/000409 th

The OpenMI LIFE project set out to build on the extremely successful 5 Framework Programme project HarmonIT. Under the HarmonIT project, a number of European modelers had been brought together to design a prototype software that could link diverse models to provide reliable data. The project focused on the water environment, and specifically on the WFD, and on how to link water models to predict and understand how catchment processes interact. In this way, models developed by diverse organisations with different end-users in mind, working on different timeframes and dimensions, can effectively interact.

The OpenMI LIFE project tested and evaluated the OpenMI under operational scenarios in two river basins: in the Netherlands and in Greece. A number of scenarios were used, for instance by linking sewage models and river models, or considering the effect of climate change on reservoir reliability. The testing of the software under operational conditions highlighted some key issues, such as the need for models to be compliant with OpenMI, and problems with model stability once they were linked.

The trials also highlighted the importance of providing adequate technical support.

A key element of the project was to make the OpenMI open source, so modelers working independently on the project could make changes to the code, thus continuing to develop and strengthen the technology. This led to a number of revisions to the code, with the eventual release of a second version of OpenMI in December 2009, shortly before the end of the project.

By the end of the project, the OpenMI was generally viewed as the leading integrated modeling tool and was being used globally. To support this, an association was established during the project, with the responsibility of continuing to oversee the technical development of the standard, the incorporation of revisions in to different versions of the code, and the eventual release of new standards. The association also provides technical support to both model developers and end users. As part of this support the project established online training courses that could be used at university level.

For further information: http://www.openmi-life.org/

Last update: 17/10/13

European Commission, DG Environment – LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Nature and Biodiversity To date, the LIFE Nature component (now called Nature and Biodiversity) has co-financed 55 projects in the United Kingdom. These projects represent a total investment of €142 million, of which €74 million was contributed by the European Union.

Completed LIFE Nature projects have supported actions targeting habitats (moors, dunes, wet heaths, raised bogs, limestone areas, oak woods, etc.), as well as species conservation and restoration (island seabirds, Atlantic salmon, capercaillie, freshwater mussel, etc.). NGOs accounted for 80% of the project beneficiaries, followed by national, local and regional authorities. Other types of beneficiaries included a public enterprise, a park authority and a university. Project durations ranged from 36 to 54 months.

There are 13 ongoing projects under this component in the United Kingdom. These projects are focusing predominantly on the conservation of habitats (active blanket bogs, “machair” coastline, alkaline and calcareous fens, moors, isles, rivers and estuaries, etc.), but also some species (the great bustard, the freshwater pearl mussel and the little tern). One project will develop a programmed approach for achieving the target conservation status on all Natura 2000 sites in England. Another will develop a programme for the management and restoration of Natura 2000 in Wales. One recently selected project, carried out by a British NGO (Fauna & Flora International, Cambridge) will enhance the landscape connectivity for brown bear and wolf through a regional network of N2000 sites in Romania. The projects beneficiaries are eight NGOs, four regional authorities and one national park. The project durations range from 28 to 66 months.

Presented in the box below is an example of a successful LIFE Nature project from the United Kingdom.

Restoring active blanket bog in the Berwyn and Migneint SACs in Wales (Active blanket bog in Wales) LIFE06/NAT/UK/000134 The Active Blanket Bog in Wales LIFE project surpassed all of its core targets. In terms of habitat restoration, 485km of drains were blocked, almost 35ha of plantation forests were removed, and regenerating non-native species were removed from almost 500ha.

The project actively engaged with the local community, particularly local farmers who were extremely sceptical of the re-wetting of the bogs. It also made extensive use of local contractors, providing considerable employment and economic benefits to the area. By utilising local labour, the skills involved in bog habitat restoration and, in particular, blocking drains also remain in the local area.

The work carried out by the project led to the publication of five scientific papers by, which greatly added to the knowledge surrounding bog habitat restoration. Furthermore, through the engagement with the farming community, in the final year of the project, a further ten farmers invited the project organisers to block drains on their land, therefore allowing the project to carry out work on areas outside of the original target area. Moreover, the project managed to ensure that the management of bog habitat was included in the next agri-environment scheme for Wales, starting in 2013.

However, the project did encounter difficulties. Engagement with the local community took much longer than anticipated. This was partly due to scepticism of the techniques, and the possible negative impacts of the project. This could only be addressed once work had begun and the project staff could demonstrate the beneficial results of the actions. Therefore, the beneficiary focused much more on this action in the second half of the project.

For further information: http://www.blanketbogswales.org

Last update: 17/10/13

European Commission, DG Environment – LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Information and Communication The projects funded under this component disseminate information and raise the profile of environmental issues.

They also provide training and awareness-raising for the prevention of forest fires.

To date, the LIFE Information and Communication component has co-financed six projects in the United Kingdom.

These projects represent a total investment of €11 million, of which €6 million was contributed by the European Union. The projects have a duration of between 37 to 48 months and are implemented by three NGOs, one public enterprise, one SME and one regional authority.

Two projects have already been completed. One of these contributed to building the capacity of future generations to act more sustainably, by using cartoon-based environmental education tools for children. The other project tested a 'one-stop-shop' approach for giving consumers advice about sustainable consumption of water and energy resources.

There are four ongoing projects. These include actions such as: engaging directly with at least 3 500 farmers through on-farm bird surveys (as well as creating a network of demonstration farms and a Biodiversity Award scheme) in order to raise awareness of the EU Birds Directive and promote positive land management practices; encouraging the development and implementation of landscape-scale conservation initiatives, involving partners in 34 priority areas (‘Futurescapes’) across the United Kingdom; developing a network linking policymakers, river basin planners, practitioners and experts across Europe to share information and good practice on river restoration activities; and delivering a comprehensive, integrated suite of communications actions, aimed primarily at farmers and other land managers, to encourage the adoption of management practices beneficial to the stone-curlew..

The project presented in the box below is an example of a successful LIFE+ Information and Communication project from the United Kingdom.

Regional Environmental Networks for Energy & Water (RENEW) LIFE07/INF/UK/000932 The RENEW project promoted links between water and energy saving actions in UK householders and tested how best to communicate this innovative message. Three pilot areas were selected to launch new combined water and energy advice services. The pilots were the first of their kind in the EU and they took place in Cardiff, London and Edinburgh between January 2009 and April 2011.

Each pilot area was selected to provide a range of different operating environments, which would generate useful comparisons and also help to replicate the results in different circumstances. For example, less than three percent of the population in Edinburgh use water meters compared to nearly a third of households in London. Rainfall levels also differed between the pilot areas and this was considered to be another influencing factor on consumer attitudes to water consumption.

Initial research in the pilot areas indicated that consumer understanding of the impact of water (especially hot water use) was low. Baseline data collection methods at the beginning of the project used a Water Energy Check (WEC) household survey. Each WEC questionnaire was carefully analysed in order to produce a tailored water advice report for individual households. The WEC was used both in direct mail and at events through partnerships with local authorities and water companies.

Findings from the WEC revealed that only eight percent of householders surveyed in the pilot areas were aware of the link between saving water and saving energy before the project. This highlighted a need to raise awareness on this issue. A common communication strategy was thus applied in all the pilot areas, which focused on the key message that, “Heating water costs you money”. A simple brochure was designed to explain the benefits of saving water and energy, as well containing tips on how this can be achieved. The brochure was disseminated via direct mail and at outreach events.

Other awareness raising measures involved providing demonstration facilities in each pilot area to show practical energy and water saving devices.

These included shower timers and water saving shower heads. The latter were adapted so that people could see for themselves the amount of hot water (and so money) that the shower heads saved. As part of the project’s engagement and education efforts, a range of similar resource-efficient household devices were supplied to people in the pilot areas.

Results of the outreach and communication work confirmed that the methods and message (“Heating water cost you money”) being tested were equally relevant in each pilot area.

For further information: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Organisations/International/Case-study-EU-Life-water-and-energy-project

Last update: 17/10/13

European Commission, DG Environment – LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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How to find out more about LIFE and LIFE projects By surfing on the LIFE website The LIFE website provides a wealth of information on the LIFE programme: http://ec.europa.eu/life/

By searching on the LIFE projects For further information on LIFE projects in the United Kingdom or LIFE projects in general, please consult the online LIFE projects database. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm The easy-to-use database is the authoritative source of information on all ongoing and closed LIFE projects. The database also provides information on the beneficiaries, their contact details, and the projects’ websites.

By contacting: The National Contact Point for the United Kingdom Beta Technology Ltd Name: Address: Tel: Fax: E-mail: Website:

Mrs Catherine HOLT Barclay Court Doncaster Carr UK - Doncaster DN4 5HZ +44 1302 322 633 +44 1302 388 800 life@betatechnology.co.uk http://www.betaeurope.co.uk/ http://www.snh.gov.uk/funding/life+-nature-and-biodiversity/ (For applicants to LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity in Scotland)

The Monitoring Team for the United Kingdom ASTRALE GEIE - HTSPE Ltd Thamesfield House, Boundary Way UK - Hemel Hempstead HP2 7SR Tel: +44 1442 202400 Fax: +44 1442 266438 Email: htspe@astrale.org

Last update: 17/10/13

European Commission, DG Environment – LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Recent Environment Policy & Governance projects in the United Kingdom Project Title

Project Number

Website

Green roofs against climate change. To establish a UK green roof code to support climate change mitigation and adaptation (GRACC)

LIFE07 ENV_UK_000936

http://www.thegreenroofcentre.co.u k/green_roof_code

Partnerships Involving Stakeholders in the Celtic sea Eco-System (PISCES)

LIFE07 ENV_UK_000943

http://www.wwf.org.uk/wwf_articles .cfm?unewsid=3503

Innovative instruments and methodologies to provide the European polymer industry with a solid technical background in support of REACH (REACH for Polymers)

LIFE08 ENV_UK_000205

http://www.reachforpolymers.eu/

European Pathway to Zero Waste: demonstrating the route to zero waste to landfill via end of waste protocols and building a recycling society (EPOW)

LIFE08 ENV_UK_000208

Electronic Duty of Care (EDOC)

Click on the icon to read the project summary

Project duration

01/2009–> 12/2011

07/2009–> 06/2012

01/2010–> 06/2012

http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/epow

01/2010–> 12/2012

LIFE09 ENV_UK_000023

http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/edoc

01/2011–> 12/2014

LIFE09 ENV_UK_000024

http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/igreen

11/2010–> 10/2013

LIFE09 ENV_UK_000026

http://www.hydrosustainability.org

Livewell plate for low impact food in Europe (LiveWell for LIFE)

LIFE10 ENV_UK_000173

http://www.livewellforlife.eu/

10/2011–> 03/2015

Company level environmental accountability reporting and information (CLEAR Info)

LIFE10 ENV_UK_000175

http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/aboutus/wfo/13338 5.aspx

01/2012–> 12/2014

Ensuring quality of wastederived products to achieve resource efficiency (Equal)

LIFE10 ENV_UK_000176

Improving Guidance on Regulations for Enterprise and the Environment (iGREEN) Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol: EU Assessments, Monitoring, Capacity Development and Outreach (Hydro4LIFE)

Scotland's environmental web (SEWeb)

LIFE10 ENV_UK_000182

Urban Participation and Focus on Reusing Waste and Recycling Development of Communications (UP&FORWARD COMS)

LIFE11 ENV_UK_000389

Celtic Seas Partnership (CSP) – stakeholder driven integrated management of the Celtic Seas Marine Region (CSP)

LIFE11 ENV_UK_000392

Assessing, Capturing & Last update: 17/10/13

http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/aboutus/wfo/13421 9.aspx http://www.environment.scotland.go v.uk/

09/2010–> 09/2013

09/2011–> 10/2014

09/2010–> 09/2013

http://www.recycleforgreatermanch ester.com/upandforward 08/2012–> 06/2015

N/A 01/2013–> 12/2016 http://www.environment-

09/2012–> 08/2015

European Commission, DG Environment – LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Utilising Methane from Expired and Non-operational landfill (ACUMEN)

LIFE11 ENV_UK_000402

agency.gov.uk/acumen

NaturEtrade: creating a market place for ecosystem services (LIFENaturEtrade)

LIFE12 ENV_UK_000473

N/A

CollabOrAtive Local Engagement Strategies for our Climate (LIFE CoaLESCe)

LIFE12 ENV_UK_000542

N/A

Developing Resource Efficient Business Models (LIFE REBus)

LIFE12 ENV_UK_000608

N/A

LIFE ObservaTREE - an integrated early warning system for tree pests and diseases using citizen science (LIFE ObservaTREE)

LIFE12 ENV_UK_000731

N/A

Circular Economy Metrics (LIFE+ CEMs)

LIFE12 ENV_UK_000966

N/A

Climate-proofing Natural Social Housing Landscapes (LIFE Housing Landscapes)

LIFE12 ENV_UK_001133

N/A

07/2013–> 06/2018

09/2013–> 12/2016

07/2013–> 12/2016

10/2013–>10/2017

07/2013–> 06/2015

07/2013–> 03/2016

Recent Nature & Biodiversity projects in the United Kingdom Project Title

Project Number

Website

Tackling Climate ChangeRelated Threats to an Important Coastal SPA in Eastern England (TaCTICS)

LIFE07 NAT_UK_000938

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/gui de/t/titchwellmarsh/coastalchange/

Restoring Alkaline and Calcareous Fens within the Corsydd Mon a Llyn (Anglesey & lleyn Fens) SACs in Wales (Anglesey and Lleyn Fens)

LIFE07 NAT_UK_000948

http://www.ccw.gov.uk/landscape-wildlife/protecting-ourlandscape/special-landscapes-sites/life-project.aspx?lang=en

The Alde-Ore Estuary Securing a sustainable future for wildlife (Alde-Ore)

LIFE08 NAT_UK_000199

http://www.lifealdeore.org

Irfon Special Area of Conservation Project (ISAC 08)

LIFE08 NAT_UK_000201

http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/p rojects/isac.php

01/2010 –> 09/2013

MoorLIFE: Active blanket bog restoration in the South Pennine Moors (MoorLIFE)

LIFE08 NAT_UK_000202

http://www.moorsforthefuture.org.u k/moorlife

04/2010 –> 04/2015

Conserving machair habitats and species in a suite of Scottish Natura sites (Scottish machair)

LIFE08 NAT_UK_000204

http://www.machairlife.org.uk/index. php?/home/why

Reintroducing the great bustard Otis tarda to southern England (Reintroducing Otis tarda)

LIFE09 NAT_UK_000020

http://www.greatbustard.org/life_pr oject/

Pearls in Peril - securing the future of the freshwater pearl mussel in Great Britain (PIP

LIFE11 NAT_UK_000383

http://www.snh.gov.uk/protectingscotlands-nature/protectedspecies/life-projects/pearls-in-peril/

Last update: 17/10/13

Click on the icon to read the project summary

Project duration

01/2009 –> 12/2012

02/2009 –> 12/2013

04/2010 –> 03/2014

01/2010 –> 12/2013

09/2010 –> 08/2015

09/2012 –> 09/2016

European Commission, DG Environment – LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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GB) Improvement Programme for England's Natura 2000 Sites (IPENS)

LIFE11 NAT_UK_000384

http://www.naturalengland/ipens20 00

Development of a programme for the management and restoration of Natura 2000 in Wales (N2K Wales)

LIFE11 NAT_UK_000385

http://www.ccw.gov.uk/landscape-wildlife/protecting-ourlandscape/special-landscapes-sites/the-life-programme/lifenatura-2000.aspx

Maintaining and enhancing the Isles of Scilly SPA through the removal of rats from two key islands (Scilly rat removal)

LIFE11 NAT_UK_000387

http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/proj ects/details/343296-isles-of-scillyseabird-recovery-project

Improving the conservation status of the little tern in the UK through targeted action at the most important colonies (LIFE Little Terns)

LIFE12 NAT_UK_000869

N/A

Enhancing landscape connectivity for brown bear and wolf through a regional network of NATURA 2000 sites in Romania (LIFE Connect Carpathians)

LIFE12 NAT_UK_001068

07/2012 –> 06/2015

09/2012 –> 12/2014

10/2012 –> 09/2017

09/2013 –> 08/2018

N/A 09/2013 –> 02/2019

Recent Information and Communication projects in the United Kingdom Project Title

Project Number

Website

Regional Environmental Networks for Energy & Water (Renew)

LIFE07 INF_UK_000932

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.u k/corporate/Corporate-and-mediasite/Key-initiatives/ServicesDevelopment/Life-Water-andEnergy-Project

Eco-Animation: a cutting edge cartoon to raise awareness on climate change and sustainable use of natural resources among European children (Eco-Animation) Promoting the importance of the EU Birds Directive in conservation management on farmland (Birds Directive) RESTORE - Rivers: Engaging, Supporting and Transferring knOwledge for Restoration in Europe (RESTORE) Futurescapes : promoting the development of green infrastructure in 34 priority areas throughout the UK (Futurescapes) Securing the future of the stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) throughout its range in the UK (Securing the stone-curlew)

LIFE07 INF_UK_000950

Last update: 17/10/13

Click on the icon to read the project summary

Project duration

01/2009 –> 12/2011

http://www.animate-eu.com/eco/ 01/2009 –> 03/2011

LIFE08 INF_UK_000214

http://www.farmwildlife.info/

LIFE09 INF_UK_000032

http://www.restorerivers.eu/

LIFE10 INF_UK_000189

http://www.rspb.org.uk/futurescape s/

LIFE11 INF_UK_000418

01/2010 –> 12/2012

09/2010 –> 09/2013

http://www.rspb.org.uk/securingthes tonecurlew

09/2011 –> 12/2014

09/2012 –> 08/2016

European Commission, DG Environment – LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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