burren LIFE

LIFE

The BurrenLIFE Project is 75% funded under the EU LIFE Programme. LIFE (The Financial Instrument for the Environment) was launched in 1992. It co-finances environmental activities in the European Community and in certain non-Community countries that have concluded specific agreements for this purpose. The objective of the programme is to contribute to the development and implementation of Community environmental policy and legislation.

LIFE consists of three thematic components: "LIFE-Nature", "LIFE-Environment" and "LIFE-Third countries". In Ireland, the Department of the Environment and Local Government administers the LIFE-Environment element of the programme. LIFE has been implemented in 3 phases: €400 million were allocated for the first phase (1992-1995), approximately €450 million were allocated for the second phase (1996-1999), while the current phase, "LIFE III" (2000-2004) has a budget of €640 million. The European Union has allocated approximately €300 million for LIFE-Environment for the period 2000-2004. The third phase, LIFE III, has been extended for a further 2 years by Regulation (EC) No 1682/2004 of 15 September 2004, with a budget of €317 million.

The BurrenLIFE Project has received approval of €1,672,865 (which represents 75% of the total budget of €2.23 million) under the LIFE Nature Programme. This will be used over the next 5 years to implement the Project Actions.