Nature and Biodiversity

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

LIFE: Environment & Climate Action

Programme Description

The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and legislation by co-financing projects with European added value. After 22 years, €3.4 billion and 4.170 projects, the LIFE Programme continues to finance actions for the environment and climate action.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

LIFE-2021-PREP-NATURA

Call

Nature and Biodiversity

Summary

The proposed projects under the topic LIFE 2021-PREP-NATURA shall address the following specific needs and Policy Priorities identified by the Member States in the sub-programme Nature and Biodiversity.

Detailed Call Description

The new EU Forest Strategy (COM(2021)572) calls for complementing the ongoing research work on forest ecosystem services under Horizon projects by means of a LIFE preparatory project with stakeholders on how payment for ecosystem services can be incorporated in EU funding programmes and include lessons learned from existing national payment schemes for ecosystem services. Although there is a common understanding that PES schemes are crucial for diversifying income to forest owners and rural communities, while supporting biodiversity and climate mitigation, benefits from the provision of ecosystem services are rarely or never rewarded. Their role in EU Funding schemes should therefore be strengthened.

The project should aim to collect national experiences as well as results of relevant EU-funded projects on PES schemes and analyse their strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore there will be an analysis of the current possibilities for PES schemes in all relevant EU programmes and in the state aid framework (guidelines). The project will, based on this analysis, propose a set of guidance/recommendations on how PES schemes can be promoted in the EU funding programmes for the Multiannual Financial Framework post 2027.

Call Total Budget

€3,000,000

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

90%

Thematic Categories

  • Environment and Climate Change

Eligibility for Participation

  • International Organisations

Eligibility For Participation Notes

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

  • be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
    • non-EU countries:
      • listed EEA countries and countries associated to the LIFE Programme (associated countries) or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature (list of participating countries)
  • the coordinator must be established in an EU Member State
  • other eligibility conditions for project Fostering the network of LIFE National Contact Points: only NCPs from EU Member States and Associated Countries are eligible to participate in and receive funding for this action.

Call Opening Date

16/12/2021

Call Closing Date

10/03/2022

National Contact Point(s)

Department of Environment
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
www.lifecyclamen.com.cy

Contact Persons 
Marilena Papastavrou
Environment Officer, National Contact Point for Environment
Contact Phone: +357 22 408 926
Email: mpapastavrou@environment.moa.gov.cy

Chrystalla Papastavrou
Environment Officer, National Contact Point for Climate
Contact Phone: +357 22 408 962
Email: cpapastavrou@environment.moa.gov.cy

(Publish Date: 16/12/2021-for internal use only)