The Nature & Biodiversity Strand aims to contribute to the implementation of EU Policy and legislation on nature and biodiversity. There are two distinct categories of project: LIFE+ Nature and LIFE+ Biodiversity.

LIFE+ Nature projects are those that contribute to the implementation of the Birds and/or Habitats Directives at a local and regional level. They also support the development and implementation of the Natura 2000 network, including coastal and marine habitats and species. The focus is on long-term sustainable investments in Natura 2000 sites and on the conservation of species and habitats targeted by the Directives already mentioned.

LIFE+ Nature projects must be best practice and/ or demonstration projects.

Projects focus on:

• Sustainable long-term investments in Natura 2000 sites.
• Conservation actions for species targeted by the Birds’ and Habitats’ directives.
• Projects must ‘demonstrate best practice.
• Co-financing rate is generally 50% (but can be either 50%, 60% or 75% when clearly targeting priority species or habitats).
• Land purchase is possible.
• A significant part (at least 25%) of the project budget should be allocated to ‘concrete conservation actions.
• Recurring conservation management actions for species, habitats and Natura 2000 sites are ineligible.

LIFE+ Biodiversity projects are different from Nature projects insofar as their focus is on the demonstration of measures and practices that contribute to halting the loss of biodiversity on the territory of member states, other than those related to the implementation of the objectives of the Birds and Habitats Directives. LIFE+ Biodiversity projects must, therefore, contribute to the implementation of the objectives of the Commission Communication “Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010- and beyond” and of the Commission Communication “Options for an EU vision and target for biodiversity beyond 2010”.

LIFE+ Biodiversity projects must be demonstrative and / or innovative in character and cover the following:

• Demonstrating innovation measures for enhancing biodiversity in both terrestrial and marine areas, without regard to the Natura 2000 status.
• Actions must be different from and have an added value compared to those in Natura 2000 network.
• Co-financing rate for projects is 50% .
• Land purchase is ineligible.
• A significant part (at least 25%) of the project budget should be allocated to ‘concrete conservation actions’

The table below may help you select the correct part of the strand.

Nature and Biodiversity proposals frequently include actions for which the coordinating and associated beneficiaries are not empowered to take the necessary decisions to ensure their successful completion. Typical examples are actions such as management plan approval, Natura 2000 site designation or modification or simply working on land falling partly or completely under the authority of a third party.

For this type of proposal it is essential that the competent authority formally expresses its support and commitment to the proposal. This is called the A8 Procedure.

The choice of authority that should complete and sign the A8 form depends on the national/ local administrative context. For projects carried out in more than one country, the A8 form (if considered necessary) must be completed by each relevant competent authority of all participating countries

The deadline for getting an A8 form authorised has now passed, but for information purposes, the procedure for the 2011 call were as follows:

1. Send the proposal summary (forms B1 and B2) and A8 form to the correct competent authority by 13th May 2011.
2. Competent Authority signs A8 form and sends back to coordinating beneficiary.
3. Coordinating beneficiary sends final proposal (including the signed A8 form) to Beta Technology for final submission deadline – 18th July 2011.

The Competent Authority depends upon where the LIFE+ actions will take place. For example, if you have conservation actions taking place in Gloucestershire, you would send the A8 to Defra. If you had actions taking place in Gloucestershire and Powys, you would send the A8 to Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Competent Authority, by region are listed below.

	England Biodiversity Programme, Defra Email: life.env@defra.gsi.gov.uk
	Northern Ireland Planning and Environment Policy Group, Department of the Environment Northern Ireland Email (all): ken.bradley@doeni.gov.uk, diane.stevenson@doeni.gov.uk
	Scotland Landscapes and Habitats Division, Rural Directorate, Scottish Government Email: steven.dora@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
	Wales Nature Conservation and Biodiversity Branch, Welsh Assembly Government Email: (all) chris.worker@wales.gsi.gov.uk stephen.jackson@Wales.gsi.gov.uk