LIFE+ is the European financial instrument for the environment. It is the European funding instrument providing specific support for the development and implementation of Community environmental policy and legislation.
LIFE+ aims at co-funding actions in the field of nature conservation (LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity) as well as in other fields of the environment that are of European interest (LIFE+ Environment and Governance). A third component of LIFE+ aims specifically at co-funding information and communication activities for the environment (LIFE+ Information and Communication).

Types of projects that can be distinguished under LIFE+:
1. LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity - Principal objective: to protect, conserve, restore, monitor and facilitate the functioning of natural systems, natural habitats, wild flora and fauna, with the aim of halting the loss of biodiversity, including diversity of genetic resources, within the EU by 2010.

2. LIFE+ Environmental Policy and Governance - Principal objectives:climate change, water, air, soil, urban environment, noise, chemicals, environment and health, natural resources and waste, forests, innovation, and strategic approaches.

3. LIFE+ Information and Communication - Principal objective: to disseminate information and raise awareness on environmental issues, including forest fire prevention; and to provide support for accompanying measures, such as information, communication actions and campaigns, conferences and training, including training on forest fire prevention.

The maximum Community co-financing rate for LIFE+ projects is 50% of the total eligible project costs. Exceptionally, a maximum cofinancing rate of 75 % is applicable to proposals which target priority habitats/species of the Birds’ and Habitats’ Directives.

Eligibility:

LIFE+ is open to all legal persons, whether public authorities, other public bodies, private commercial organisations and private noncommercial organisations (including NGOs), that are legally established in the European Union.

Project proposals can either be submitted by a single beneficiary or by a partnership which includes a project beneficiary and one or several project partners. They can be either national or transnational, but the actions must exclusively take place within the territory of the 27 EU Member States.

The European Commission has also scheduled workshops for potential LIFE+ applicants in each EU member state.
For more information:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/news/events/events2010/info_workshops10.htm

Dealines:
- 1 September 2010 (to National authorities)
- 4 October 2010 (National authorities must then forward all proposals to the European Commission)Contact your National/regional contact point for further information: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/contact/nationalcontact/index.htm