LIFE programme - Country Factsheet

LITHUANIA
Overview
Since the launch of the LIFE programme by the European Commission in 1992, a total of ten projects were financed in Lithuania. Of these, 9 focused on nature conservation and one on capacity building. These projects represent a total investment of 13.5 million, of which 7.5 million was contributed by the European Union. This document provides an overview of LIFE in Lithuania. It showcases success stories and ongoing initiatives, indicates how to find further information on the projects and provides a list of recent projects in Annex. Every year a call for project proposals is launched for its three components: Nature and Biodiversity, Environment Policy and Governance, and Information and Communication. You will find more details on all recent LIFE projects in Latvia in the annexed lists.

Last update: 6/05/13

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European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

Nature and Biodiversity

To date, the LIFE Nature component (now called Nature and Biodiversity) has co-financed nine projects in Lithuania. These projects represent a total investment of 13.5 million, of which 7.5 million is contributed by the European Union. Two of these projects are now closed. One has succeeded in restoring favourable conditions to secure the survival of a number of threatened Lithuanian coastal habitats and species. This project had a budget of 0.6 million, 50% of which was contributed by the European Union. More details can be found in the box below. The other project ensured the favourable conservation status of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in the North European lowlands. There are seven ongoing projects in Lithuania. The objectives of these projects include: to restore the hydrological and ecological functions of the Amalvas and uvintas wetlands in order to ensure the f avourable conservation status of the aquatic warbler; to prepare a white stork species action plan for Lithuania; to compile inventories of marine species and habitats in the waters off the Lithuanian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and to designate Natura 2000 areas selected during site evaluation; to protect the nesting sites of at least 10% of Lithuania's lesser spotted eagle population (more than 200 pairs) from direct destruction and the indirect effects of timber harvesting; to create an ecological network in southern Lithuania, ensuring the favourable conservation status of threatened populations of selected Annex II and Annex IV-listed species, while simultaneously enhancing the ecological value of the target area; and to restore degrading habitats of Community interest in the protected areas of Lithuania. These projects are being implemented by five NGOs, one university (Klaipeda), one regional park (Salantai) and one intergovernmental body. The projects have a foreseen duration of between 39 and 60 months.

Natura 2000 site conservation and management on the Lithuanian coast (LITCOAST) LIFE05/NAT/LT/000095
The LITCOAST project successfully reinforced vulnerable dune areas, threatened by erosion, over an area of 300 000 m2, and along a stretch of 20 km. A 1 500 m2 area of boardwalks and steps were constructed within the Curonian Spit national park and the Nemunas Delta coastal regional park. The project restored habitats facing extinction covering 1 600 ha of seashore (this included some 50% of all Lithuanian coastal grasslands and dunes). Key areas of the Curonian Lagoon for the protection of habitats and species were designated as new Natura 2000 sites. Management plans and monitoring schemes for three coastal Natura 2000 sites were prepared and adopted. Mitigation measures for the reduction of the negative impact of commercial fishing on birds and rare species of fish were proposed and incorporated into the site management plans. Artificial nesting platforms (20) were constructed for the birds of prey, the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and black Kite (Milvus migrans) and grazing with sheep was introduced to targeted areas of coastal grasslands. Importantly, the project claims favourable conditions have been established for a number of threatened Lithuanian coastal habitats and species. Looking ahead, the beneficiary believes its actions have provided the material and technical means to enable the long-term maintenance and monitoring of the coastal habitats and species within the project area. For further information: http://zvejone.dev.weblancet.com/life/index_en.php?act=news&title_b=News&kalbos=EN

Last update: 25/03/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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How to find out more about LIFE and LIFE projects

By surfing on the LIFE website
The LIFE website provides a wealth of information on the LIFE programme: http://ec.europa.eu/life/

By searching on the LIFE projects

For further information on LIFE projects in Lithuania or LIFE projects in general, please consult the online LIFE projects database. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm The easy-to-use database is the authoritative source of information on all ongoing and closed LIFE projects. The database also provides information on the beneficiaries, their contact details, and the projects websites.

By contacting: The National Contact Point for Lithuania

European Union Assistance Management Department Name: Address: Tel: Fax: E-mail: Website: M. Kastytis GEDMINAS, Chief Desk Officer A. Jaksto St 4/9 LT - 01105 Vilnius +370 5 266 35 32 +370 5 266 36 63 k.gedminas@am.lt http://www.am.lt/VI/index.php#a/7874

The Monitoring Team for Lithuania

ASTRALE EEIG - SIA ELLE Skolas Iela 10-8 LV - 1010 Riga Latvia Tel: +371 6 7242411 Fax: +371 6 7242466 E-mail: elle@astrale.org

Last update: 25/03/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Recent Nature & Biodiversity projects in Lithuania

Project Title Project Number Website Click on the icon to read the project summary Project duration

Restoring Hydrology in Amalvas and uvintas Wetlands (WETLIFE) Conservation of White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) in Lithuania (White Stork Conservation) Securing Sustainable Farming to Ensure Conservation of Globally Threated Bird Species in Agrarian Landscape (Baltic Aquatic Warbler) Inventory of marine species and habitats for development of NATURA 2000 network in the offshore waters of Lithuania (DENOFLIT) Conservation of the Lesser Spotted Eagle* (Aquila pomarina) in Lithuanian Forests (Eagles in the forest) Development of Pilot Ecological Network through Nature Frame Areas in Southern Lithuania (ECONAF) Restoration of degrading habitats of Community interest in the protected areas of Lithuania (Buveini tvarkymas)

LIFE07 NAT/LT/000530 LIFE07 NAT/LT/000531 LIFE09 NAT/LT/000233

http://www.wetlife.gpf.lt/ 01/2009 > 03/2012 http://www.ciconia.lt/ 01/2009 > 12/2012 http://www.meldine.lt/en 09/2010 > 08/2015

LIFE09 NAT/LT/000234

http://corpi.ku.lt/denoflit/ 10/2010 > 03/2015

LIFE09 NAT/LT/000235

http://www.eagles.lt 11/2010 > 04/2015

LIFE09 NAT/LT/000581

http://www.glis.lt/ekotinklas/index.p hp/lt/

09/2010 > 09/2014

LIFE10 NAT/LT/000117

http://lifeplius.salanturp.lt 01/2012 > 12/2016

Last update: 25/03/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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