Europe Invests Millions in Environmental Innovation, Conservation

BRUSSELS, Belgium, September 9, 2004 (ENS) - The European Commission today approved funding for 109 environmental innovation projects in 18 member states that will apply new technologies to tackle environmental problems. Hazardous waste management, wastewater treatment, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and clean technologies are all on the list for funding.

Wilton International in England is one of the largest petrochemical complexes in Europe. (Photo courtesy FreeFoto)

In addition, the Commission today approved funding for 77 nature conservation projects to further the establishment of the European Union's Natura 2000 network of areas that safeguard important wildlife habitats and threatened species.

The projects will physically restore protected areas and their plants and animals, establish sustainable management structures and strengthen public awareness.

The new EU state of Cyprus, for instance, is funded for its first coordinated effort to set up a sound management planning system for Natura 2000 in the country. A series of pilot actions in marine, mountain and lowland forests, grasslands, and wetlands will preserve bird and plant species in five different Natura 2000 sites.

One of the two projects to be funded in Denmark this year will restore 11 of the most valuable grassland sites and secure their long term management. One of these sites, Mols Bjerge on Jutland, is a pilot area for developing a model for national parks in Denmark.

The European eco-label may find a place in the tourism industry.

An international project will estimate the numbers of small cetaceans in European Atlantic waters. The main species targeted are harbor porpoise, bottlenose dolphin and common dolphin. Reliable, up-to-date information is essential for the development of management frameworks, which inform discussions on sustainable levels of by-catch. The survey will update work completed in 1994 and improve the methods for a regular monitoring of the species.

Estonia hosts European populations of black stork, Ciconia nigra, lesser spotted eagle, Aquila pomarina, and single pairs of rare greater spotted eagle, Aquila clanga. One project aims to safeguard a network of the most important nesting sites from commercial forestry.

The greater spotted eagle is at risk from logging operations. (Photo credit unknown)

In Slovenia, one project is aimed at the conservation of the otter, Lutra lutra, in the Goricko Nature park in northeastern Slovenia, along the Austrian and Hungarian border, where a viable population of this species survives.

The project entails a detailed survey of the otter population, and a series of mitigation measures to reduce the impact of traffic and infrastructure threatening the otter’s migration corridors. The project also includes measures to raise local public awareness of the importance of the otter.

The Commission also approved funding for 20 new environment projects under the LIFE Third Countries program 2004. The total cost of the projects amounts to €12.18 million and EU financing represents 64 percent of this amount.

The 20 selected projects have capacity building as their main objective - development of institutions, policies, monitoring tools, training facilities, networks and data bases.

Egyptian leathers (Photo courtesy 5 Stars Tannery)

The tanning industry has negative environmental impacts through the use of great quantities of chemicals and water, which produce solid waste and wastewater, the Commission says.

Actions under the project will include establishing an environmental laboratory; the design and set-up of a pilot tanning plant and a pilot wastewater treatment plant complemented by training of technical staff in related environmental analyses; and the practical functioning of both pilot plants.

A separate grant of roughly the same amount will be spent on a demonstration of wastewater treatment in Tunisian tanneries.

"The environment does not respect borders, so it is important that we help our neighbors improve their environmental situation and reach the path of sustainable development," said Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom. “But the main beneficiaries of LIFE Third Countries are of course the citizens of these third countries, who will enjoy a higher quality of life.”

The EU budget for these three funding strands under the LIFE program totals €160 million (US$194.7 million), but millions more will be invested by the beneficiaries, project partners and co-financers.