LIFE-2024-PLP-NAT-ENV Priority 1: Support for mapping condition assessment and restoration of marine habitats

The LIFE programme is the EU Programme for Environment and Climate Action and thus is one of the key contributors to the European Green Deal. Proposed projects under this topic (LIFE-2024-PLP-ENV-NAT) shall aim to address specific needs identified by Member States in the sub-programme Circular Economy and Quality of Life and in the sub-programme Nature and Biodiversity.   

One of the specific priorities identified under the Nature and Biodiversity sub-programme is relevant to Mission Ocean and Waters objectives and targets, and this priority is: Support for mapping condition assessment and restoration of marine habitats. At present, the knowledge on the status of marine ecosystems in the EU is still limited despite existing obligations from the Birds and Habitats Directive (BHD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Comprehensive marine habitat maps are needed to effectively protect and restore marine ecosystems as part of the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy. These maps are essential bases to develop monitoring programmes to assess condition of marine habitats, to identify and plan new networks of marine protected areas as well as restoration measures.  

Objectives: 

The objective of the project is to support EU Member States to advance their implementation of the BHD in the marine environment and the MSFD. Under the perspective of the development of a EU approach to overarching restoration objective for the long-term recovery of nature, the project will help to support Member States by providing them the best knowledge on methods and steps to: 1) map the location of marine habitats within their marine areas, 2) assess the condition of these marine habitats 3) implement suitable measures to restore and/or re-establish these marine habitats. 

Eligible applicants: 

Potential applicants under this priority include: 

• organisations implementing restoration actions or gathering experts in the field of marine restoration; 
• Member States’ authorities in charge of marine restoration and implementation of the BHD and the MSFD.  

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must: 

• be legal entities (public or private bodies) 
• be established in one of the eligible countries (i.e. EU Member States including overseas territories and countries, Iceland, Moldova, North Macedonia, Ukraine). 
• The coordinator must be established in an eligible country.  
• The consortium shall include at least one organisation actively working on marine restoration.  

Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register.  

Budget: 

Maximum EU contribution of EUR 1,30 million. The contracting authority expects to award only 1 grant per specific priority.  

Duration: 

Expected project duration is 36 months.  

LIFE-2024-PLP-NAT-ENV call for proposals 

Call document: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/life/wp-call/2021-2024/call-fiche_life-2024-plp_en.pdf  

Support for applicants: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life/life-support-applicants_en#ecl-inpage-1377 

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