FUNDING NATURAL HERITAGE PROJECTS IN SCOTLAND LIFE+ NATURE AND BIODIVERISTY

Transcription

1 FUNDING NATURAL HERITAGE PROJECTS IN SCOTLAND LIFE+ NATURE AND BIODIVERISTY

2 LIFE projects in the UK LIFE is the European financial instrument for the environment LIFE programme started in 1992 Two strands LIFE Environment and LIFE Nature In the UK, 132 LIFE Environment and 42 LIFE Nature projects total value 147m ( 62.6m from EC) In June 2007, LIFE+ regulation published

3 LIFE+ programme Launched in UK July 2007 in Derby Programme duration is 2007 to 2013 Three strands: Nature and Biodiversity Environmental Policy and Governance Information and Communication

4 LIFE+ programme Budget 2.143bn (~ 1.58bn): 78% for projects; 22% retained by European Commission Project budget 1.671bn (~ 1.24bn); 50% must be allocated to the Nature and Biodiversity strand UK indicative budgets for all strands: M (~M 11) in 2007 M (~M 12.2) in 2008 M (~M 13.2) in 2009 M (~M 14) in 2010

5 LIFE+ in Scotland Scottish Government co-ordinating Environmental Policy and Governance and Information and Communication Scottish Natural Heritage co-ordinating Nature and Biodiversity All bids from Scotland must be approved by Scottish Government before submission to the UK s Competent Authority, Defra. Only Defra can submit bids to the European Commission

6 LIFE+ consultant for UK Defra has appointed a consultant, BETA Technology, to manage the submission process BETA can also provide pre-screening of applications for the benefit of applicants in advance of formal submission BETA check eligibility of applications for Defra but do not screen for quality All applications must be submitted to BETA who pass them to Defra

7 LIFE+ in Scotland The Environmental Policy and Governance strand contributes to implementation of Community environmental policy through innovative policy approaches, technologies, methods and instruments Priorities are: climate change, water, air, soil, urban environment, noise, chemicals, health & environment, waste & natural resources, forests, innovation, strategic approaches Intervention rate is a maximum of 50% Contact: Andrew.Mackie@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

8 LIFE+ in Scotland The Information and Communication strand is aimed at awareness raising campaigns on environmental, nature or biodiversity conservation issues, including forest fire prevention Intervention rate is a maximum of 50% Contact: Andrew.Mackie@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

9 LIFE+ in Scotland The Nature and Biodiversity strand contributes to the implementation of Community policy and legislation on nature and biodiversity. Actions financed must have European added value and be complementary to those actions that can be financed under other Community Funds (e.g. Rural Development Programme, European Fisheries Fund) Contact:

10 LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity Two components LIFE+ Nature and LIFE+ Biodiversity Proposals must be submitted under one component only LIFE+ Nature supports the Natura 2000 network similar to previous LIFE - Nature LIFE+ Biodiversity new component - supports halting the loss of biodiversity in the European Community

11 LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity LIFE+ Nature Birds & Habitats (B&H) Directive only Demonstration or Best Practice Long-term measures Land purchase/long lease eligible Durables 100% eligible LIFE+ Biodiversity Not restricted to B&H Directives Demonstration or Innovation Short-term feasibility Short-term lease only Only durables depreciation eligible

12 LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity Projects favoured are large (~ 1.5M+;~ 1.1m) and ambitious Project duration: 2-5 years (include 6 months contingency) Intervention rate 50% (75% for LIFE+ Nature priority species or habitats) Projects should include concrete conservation actions Actions proposed in practise, cannot be and are not funded by other European funds [Article 9]

13 FUNDING NATURAL HERITAGE PROJECTS IN SCOTLAND LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity Outline requirements and procedures

14 LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity To work up a bid from an outline takes about a year To assist the development of LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity bids in Scotland and to avoid time and effort being wasted SNH will provide an early assessment process for project concepts with feedback to applicants and the Scottish Government

15 Initial submission procedure - LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity in Scotland LIFE+ applicant Concept Note BETA SNH End May Scottish Government (SG) Mid-June

16 Concept Note Download from at LIFE+ button on home page Purpose: Forewarn Scottish Government (SG) of potential bids Advise applicants on suitability of proposal and likely level of SG support Co-ordinate and manage SNH involvement in any proposals Broker opportunities for collaborative projects

17 Concept Note Information requested: Beneficiaries and co-financier organisations Brief project description - main aims, concrete conservation actions Nature or Biodiversity? Innovative, Demonstration or Best practice? Estimated total costs, eligible costs, contributions, LIFE+ funds requested Contact details

18 Concept Note Feedback Advice on proposals will be provided by SNH following submission of the Concept Note Applicants may then choose to proceed to a full application, defer applying until the following year or withdraw their bid Applicants need their projects endorsed by SG in order for Defra, as the Competent Authority, to support submission to the Commission [Form A8]

19 Form A8 Instructions about completing Form A8 including deadlines can be found at The person to send Form A8 to in the Scottish Government is Steven Dora: The completed form must be added to your application and burned to CD for final submission to BETA by the end of October

20 Final submission procedure - LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity Draft LIFE+ applicant Draft SG SNH BETA End Oct Form A8 Defra Mid Dec Commission End Jan

21 Commission decision procedure Defra BETA LIFE+ Applicant Commission Jan - Year X 7 days Eligibility check Feb - Year X Bid revisions Award Oct - Year X Contract signed Dec - Year X