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The EU Life Programme and the Oostvaardersplassen

What is "LIFE"?  
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.

LIFE began in 1992 and to date there have been four complete phases of the programme (LIFE I: 1992-1995, LIFE II: 1996-1999, LIFE III: 2000-2006 and LIFE+: 2007-2013). During this period, LIFE has co-financed some 3954 projects across the EU, contributing approximately €3.1 billion to the protection of the environment.

The European Commission (DG Environment and DG Climate Action) manages the LIFE programme. The Commission has delegated the implementation of many components of the LIFE programme to the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME). External selection, monitoring and communication teams provide assistance to the Commission and EASME. The European Investment Bank will manage the two new financial instruments (NCFF and PF4EE). (Source: EU) 


LIFE and the Oostvaardersplassen
There is a Dutch nation wide EU-funded project called: LIFE DELTA Nature - Integrated approach N2000 Delta Nature to catalyse the implementation of the Netherlands’ Prioritised Action Framework  LIFE15 IPE/NL/000016. You can dowload the full programme document as a  PDF file below. The full budget is  17,442,390.00 €  and the EU contribution  is 10,465,434.00 €. 

This LIFE IP Delta Nature program originates from Natura 2000. Natura 2000 is a European network of nature reserves with important flora and fauna. The goal of Natura 2000 is to protect this flora and fauna in a sustainable way. LIFE IP Delta Nature focuses entirely on enriching the 'wet' nature reserves in large waters. 

One part of this project is the LIFE IP pilot connection Oostvaardersplassen - Markermeer. The idea with this project is that a connection will be made between the marshes of the Oostvaardersplassen and the Markermeer which will have 2 advantages: water with nutrients will flow from the marshes to the Markermeer and fishes will be able to enter the marshes which will be good for (fish eating) waterbirds. It will create in essence a more natural ecological cycle of the wetlands. If you would like to know more about this specific project click here (only in Dutch).  

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