Introduction to LIFE-Nature projects 2004 LIFE Nature: the Commission supports 77 nature conservation projects with 76 millions Euro In 2004 the European Commission approved plans; management of watercourses; land purchase funding for 77 nature conservation projects under (especially in northern Europe); grazing the LIFE financial insturment. management; elimination of alien species; and site restoration and improvement. Part of all the All the projects selected for funding will contribute projects are measures to disseminate the results and to the establishment of the EU-wide Natura 2000 lessons learnt to stakeholders and the general network of areas safeguarding important wildlife public. If relevant, the projects will also monitor and habitats and threatened species. document the impact of their actions. The projects will restore protected areas and their fauna and flora, establish sustainable management Background structures and strengthen public awareness. Of the selected projects, 75 will be carried out in EU Member States and two in Romania. Established in 1992, LIFE is the EU's financial instrument supporting environmental and nature LIFE Nature is one of three funding strands under conservation projects throughout the EU, in the EU’s environmental financial instrument LIFE candidate countries and in some neighboring whose goal is to support the implementation of EU regions. The general objective of LIFE is to environmental policies and legislation. Funding contribute to the development and implementation under LIFE approved in 2004 totals 160 million of of EU environmental policy by financing specific euro. actions. The two other components of LIFE, LIFE LIFE Nature in 2004 Environment and LIFE Third Countries, focus on innovative environmental protection measures, and environmental protection in a number of countries The 77 projects were selected among 250 proposals neighbouring the EU. submitted for LIFE Nature funding. Together, they represent a total investment of 140 million of euro Since 1992, some 2400 projects have received EU in nature conservation, of which the EU will cover funding under the LIFE programme, representing 76 million of euro. The remaining funding will come an EU contribution of 1,4 billion of euro to the from the beneficiaries, project partners and co- protection of the environment. financers. More information about each project is available at: Most of the selected LIFE Nature projects will http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/life/proje directly target the conservation or restoration of ct/index.htm. particular Natura 2000 sites or networks of sites. More about the Natura 2000 network can be found at: Others aim to protect threatened or vulnerable http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/h animal or plant species. ome.htm The most common project activities deal with the development and implementation of management Protecting raptors in Tilos LIFE04NAT/GR/000101 Official Title Conservation management of an Island SPA Background Beneficiary Type of beneficiary Tilos, situated between Kos and Rhodes, is one of the Local authority smallest islands of the Dodecanese (63 km2). Due to the Name of beneficiary island’s large variety of habitats, which include rocky islets, Municipality of Tilos relic woodland, a number of small but abandoned springs, natural and human-made grasslands, the island supports a Postal address variety of rare and protected bird species. Megalo Chorio GR-85002 Tilos Tilos is very important for the two raptor species Ellas Hieraaetus fasciatus and Falco eleonorae, and important Tel.: +30 2246 70885 for the shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii. During Fax: +30 2246 044320 the last decades Tilos’ natural environment has changed Email: [email protected] due to anthropogenic influences such as tourism development, land-use changes and other small Name of contact person infrastructure development. All these are threatening the Mr. Konstantinos Metzelopoulos island’s traditional agricultural landscapes, its biodiversity and consequently its important avifauna. Duration of project From 01 November 2004 to 28-FEB -2008 Total budget in euro: 824,212.00 EC contribution in euro with % 618,159.00 (75%) Project Objectives This LIFE project aims setting a basis for the SPA authorities for future projects (elaborating proposals for management of Tilos, by implementing management future management of the species targeted and proposals measures for Bonelli’s Eagle, Eleonora’s Falcon and Shag. for boosting traditional farming). The project will set up an effective surveillance of the breeding populations of the 3 target species, in order to increase/maintain their breeding success. In addition, the increase of prey availability for the two raptors will be targeted via the enhance- ment/maintenance of invertebrates (insects), bird (partridges), reptile (lizards) and (micro)mammal populations. The project foresees also the creation of an information center, guided tours and surveillance. Further project objectives are upgrading the capacity of the local Services for environmental management, and enhancing the collaboration among local, regional and central .