Surfbirds News

Forecasters suggest the UK is likely to receive a minimum of €63.26 million providing appropriate project proposals are sent to the Commission.

The fund – known as LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity – aims to restore and protect charismatic and special species under threat in Europe, such as lynxes, bison, bears, turtles, vultures and eagles.

Fifty-one varieties of bird across the European Union have been identified as priorities for action under the fund, and seven of these occur regularly in the UK. The Scottish crossbill – which occurs nowhere else in the world - corncrake, bittern and roseate tern are all regular nesting species in the UK, and the Balearic shearwater, aquatic warbler and Greenland white-fronted goose all occur as regular non-breeding visitors.

Aquatic Warbler, priority for action species, Poland, May 2004, copyright Birdseekers

Sacha Cleminson, senior European advocacy officer with the RSPB, said: “The RSPB has worked hard with the Commission to ensure this fund is targeted towards those species and habitats in most need of help.

“We hope these EU-funded projects will continue to keep threatened birds such as the bittern and Scottish crossbill as key elements of our wildlife, enriching our countryside and our lives.”

Europe’s richest habitats, stretching from the Arctic to the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands are also in line for help. Chalk grasslands, machair, heathlands, reedbeds, blanket bogs, and Caledonian pine forest are all priority habitats within the European Union that occur in extensive tracts within the UK.

Sacha Cleminson added: “By restoring wildlife-rich landscapes this fund will benefit some of Europe’s most threatened species. Additionally, these habitats can, for example, also help safeguard and purify drinking water and keep us healthy by tempting us out to walk in an enriched countryside.”

A particular target for the money will be to fund the extension of protected areas into European seas. These would safeguard marine wildlife such as cold water coral reefs.