life-nature seminar czech& slovak republics13 june 2005 life-nature raeymaekers.pdf ·...

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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

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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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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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� 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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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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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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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

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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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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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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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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)

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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,

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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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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�

http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/life/nature/index.htm

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Elements of failureformal requirements were not metInsufficiently protected areaslow conservation benefitlow quality and coherence of proposallow feasibility of proposed measures

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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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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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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 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

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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]

mailto:[email protected]

life-nature seminar czech& slovak republics13 june 2005 life-nature raeymaekers.pdf ·...

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