L'Italia riceverà dunque fondi per ben 29 progetti, corrispondenti a circa 1/4 di quelli approvati e a 1/10 di quelli presentati come concept note, a livello europeo, caratterizzandosi ancora come una delle nazioni più attive nell'utilizzo di questo fondo: 11 progetti LIFE Natura, relativi alla tutela di specie e habitat minacciati (ho coordinato l'elaborazione di 2 di questi progetti); 8 LIFE Ambiente, per ridurre l'impatto delle attività umane, 4 Life sull'informazione e la governance ambientale, 1 progetto CLIMA sull'adattamento climatico, 3 sulla mitigazione del clima e 2 sulla governance in materia.
Ecco la lista dei progetti ancora non definitiva (fonte Easme):
Nature (NAT)
Saving the critically
endangered Sicilian fir (LIFE4FIR)
The Parco delle Madonie in northern Sicily hosts the world’s only
natural population of the Sicilian fir (Abies nebrodensis). Classed as
critically endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s
Red List, the species’ relict population comprises just 30 adult trees and 165
saplings. These are threatened by extensive grazing, cross-breeding with
non-native fir species, and the poor state of health of individual plants. The
LIFE4FIR project team, led by the National Research Council of Italy, aims to
strengthen the genetic diversity of this highly endangered fir. It will protect
the existing trees and carry out reforestation work, as well as establishing a
seed bank to safeguard the species’ future.
Supporting biodiversity in the
Brenta river basin (LIFE Brenta 2030)
Biodiversity in the Natura 2000 site Medio Corso del Fiume Brenta, in
the Veneto region of Italy, is adversely affected by a variety of man-made
impacts. These include agricultural run-off and water contamination,
alterations to rivers caused by gravel mining, extraction of freshwater for
irrigation and drinking water, and the fragmentation of habitats. Coordinated by
the public utility company ETRA, this LIFE project aims to create new wetland
habitats, including humid meadows and alluvial forests, restore aquatic
ecosystems, and protect several bird and amphibian species.
Tackling invasive species in
the Tuscan Archipelago (LIFE LETSGO GIGLIO)
The biodiversity of Giglio island in the Tuscan Archipelago is
threatened by several invasive alien species, such as the mouflon (Ovis
aries), the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and the
yellow-bellied slider turtle (Trachemys scripta). These degrade the
island’s grassland and forest habitats, in turn affecting protected bird
species. LIFE LETSGO GIGLIO will tackle the invaders, eradicating the mouflon
and slider turtle, and intensively managing the rabbit population. This should
improve the overall ecosystem quality as well as the conservation status of
protected habitats and species, in line with the EU Birds and Habitats
directives, EU legislation on invasive alien species, and the EU biodiversity strategy.
New Europe-wide alpine wolf
management practices (LIFE WOLFALPS EU)
Efforts to coordinate wolf management set up under a previous LIFE
project have not yet led to an overall conservation approach for the wolf in
the Alps, mainly because institutions remain fragmented. The alpine wolf
population continues to suffer from poisoning, conflicts with livestock owners
and hunters, and interbreeding with dogs. The LIFE WOLFALPS EU project team
will set up five international
groups to coordinate technical, scientific and other conservation activities.
It will also train 2 000 supervisors on wolf surveillance and explore ways to
reduce conflict hotspots though preventative measures and education, working
alongside hunters.
Eradicating rats and other
invasives to protect seabirds (LIFE DIOMEDEE)
The objective of the project is to protect seabirds and habitats, listed
in the EU Birds Directive and Habitats Directive from the threat of invasive
non-native species, in Natura 2000 sites in the Gargano National Park, Italy.
The project team will eradicate the black rat in the Diomedee Islands to
improve the conservation status of shearwater species. The national park
authority will also eradicate the invasive non-native blue crab that threatens
aquatic habitats, eradicate the South African ragwort that threatens protected
dry grassland habitats, and control the spread of Ailanthus altissima and
other invasive plant species that threaten the park’s biodiversity.
Restoring dry grassland
habitats to boost biodiversity (LIFE DRYLANDS)
The project aims to restore dry-acidic Continental open habitats in
eight Nature 2000 sites of the western Po plain in Italy, including three
habitat types listed in the EU Habitats Directive: inland dunes, European dry
heaths and semi-natural dry grasslands. The project team, coordinated by staff
at the University of Pavia, will restore characteristic features of these
habitats, such as bare soil areas, and increase plant diversity through
re-planting. The project team will also create ecological corridors to reduce
habitat fragmentation and increase connectivity, and control the invasive woody
plant species that cause biodiversity loss.
Promoting shark-friendly
fishing gear (LIFE ELIFE)
Since the 1980s, cartilaginous fish, such as sharks, skates, rays, have
increasingly been caught as accidental by-catch in the Mediterranean Sea, by
commercial fisheries using bottom trawl nets and longlines. The LIFE ELIFE
project team, led by Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohm, will protect endangered
shark and ray species by promoting best practices in these fisheries
operations, and by carrying out demonstration actions in Italian harbours. The
project team aim at reducing the mortality of species, such as sandbar shark
and basking shark, through the introduction of low-impact fishing gear, and
will work with fishermen to facilitate its introduction.
Reducing human impacts on sea
turtles (MEDTURTLES)
The project aims to improve the conservation status of the EU
populations of two sea turtles, Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas,
that are listed as conservation priority species in the EU Habitats Directive.
The project team will reduce the impact of human activities, including
commercial fishing, by modifying fishing gear and establishing voluntary best
practices on fishing boats, in turtle foraging grounds in Spain, Italy,
Tunisia, Turkey and Albania, and on nesting beaches in Spain and Albania. This
will help secure long-term protection of suitable nesting habitats and ensure
that young turtles survive to maintain healthy populations. The project will
also establish a network of
sea turtle research and conservation organisations, and raise citizen awareness
about Mediterranean Sea turtle conservation.
Supporting the red kite in
Italy and on Corsica (LIFE MILVUS)
The red kite (Milvus milvus) population is declining in its main nesting
areas of Spain, France and Germany, although increasing in some other European
countries. In Italy, it was once a common species but today the red kite’s
distribution is highly fragmented. In the Aspromonte National Park in Calabria,
no nesting pairs have been recorded, while in Corsica (France), the red kite is
listed as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature
Red List of breeding birds. The LIFE MILVUS project team, led by the national
park authority, aims to reintroduce a self-sustaining red kite population into
the Aspromonte National Park and promote long-term conservation of the species
in Corsica.
Beneficial flooding in the
Venetian lagoon (LIFE FORESTALL)
LIFE FORESTALL will protect and manage Natura 2000 sites in the Valle
Averto Oasis in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy. The project team will restore
existing patches, and create new areas, of the EU Habitats Directive
‘Calcareous fens’ and ‘Alluvial forests’ priority habitats. The non-profit
organisation CORILA and other project partners will improve water level
regulation and circulation, especially in flood areas, to favour the
development of the target habitats. They will also reduce the occurrence of
invasive plant species, particularly black locust and sea myrtle, and the Wels
catfish that threatens the fish community of the Valle Averto Oasis. The
project’s plan to install rafts should also increase the occurrence of breeding
bird species.
Environment (ENV)
Genetic and biodiversity model
to give foresters better sustainable management tools (LIFE SySTEMIC)
Healthy forests need to be genetically diverse so they can be resilient
to environmental changes. But up to 60% of threatened forest habitats in the EU
are under threat from fragmentation, unsustainable management, invasive species
and more. These reduce biodiversity and the ability of Europe’s forests to
adapt. Forestry researchers from the University of Florence, who coordinate
LIFE SySTEMIC, will build a new genetic biodiversity and silvicultural model to
help foresters manage forests more sustainably. The project team will put this
into practice in three different EU countries.
Better
air quality in large pig sheds for healthier animals and workers (LIFE-MEGA)
Intensive pig farming makes up the majority of European swine
production, but it has a heavy impact in terms of water, soil and air
pollution. Large pig sheds develop poor air quality, with especially high
levels of ammonia, methane, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds.
This poor air quality harms the health of both animals and workers.
Environmental scientists from the University of Milan, running LIFE-MEGA, will
develop an online tool to monitor air pollutant concentrations in pig sheds and
keep them below a threshold. They will also test two different cleaning
prototypes, leading to reductions in ammonia and particulate matter by 70% and
80%, respectively.
Looking for reduction on tyre
noise levels from electric vehicles (LIFE E-VIA)
Electric cars could bring many benefits compared to combustion-engine
vehicles, including less noise. Noise pollution affects many Europeans.
However, little work has been done on tyre noise from electric cars. In the
municipality of Florence, which will run the LIFE E-VIA project, researchers
will assess noise levels from different electric and hybrid vehicles using two
special test road surfaces, including a surface designed to minimise noise. The
project team will also evaluate the CO2 savings from vehicle tyres running on optimised, low-noise
road surfaces.
Enhance, nurture and vitalise
crops to increase yield and healthy plant growth (LIFE ENVISION)
To feed a rising world population, agriculture needs to become more
productive. But it must do this in the context of the changing climate, the
need to save water and minimise inorganic pesticide input. One answer could be
biostimulants – formulas made from micronutrients such as organic acids or
plant nutrients – to improve the efficiency of plant growth. The LIFE ENVISION
team will test new biostimulants on cereals, sugar beet, corn, strawberries and
tomatoes. It is expected this will lead to an increase in yields in the pilot
areas of 15%, while water consumption will be reduced by 9% and fungicide use
by 65%. The project will be led by SCL Italia, an agricultural chemicals and
products company.
Mother and infant dyads:
Lowering the impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in milk for a healthy
life (LIFE Milch)
Human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), or chemicals
that interfere with the hormone system, occurs from the moment of conception
onwards. Unborn babies and infants could be especially vulnerable to the
substances. Under LIFE Milch, researchers from the neuroscience unit at the University
of Parma will improve knowledge about the correlation between levels of
maternal exposure to EDCs or milk contamination and the health status of
infants. They will study the extent of EDC contamination of mothers and
children in rural and urban areas in Italy, and make recommendations to
companies and policymakers on ways of reducing exposure.
Closing the loop for carbon
fibres from vehicles (LIFE-CIRCE)
The use of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites in the
transport sector has grown rapidly, enabling light-weight and more
fuel-efficient vehicles. However, there are still crucial barriers to overcome,
in terms of reclaiming complex fibre scraps and recycling the material for the
market. A team from HP Composites, a company which designs CFRP, will
demonstrate how scraps of CFRP that have been impregnated with resins can be
used in different sectors without the need for complicated energy-intensive
reprocessing, thus lowering raw material and manufacturing costs. The project
team will design and construct two pilot machines to process CFRP and make it
reusable in new products, and prove their technical and economic viability.
Recycling absorbent hygiene
products into raw materials (LIFE HUB’n’SPOKE (H&S))
Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHPs), including nappies and sanitary pads,
are considered non-recyclable in municipal waste and are thus landfilled or
incinerated. But 30% of this waste by weight comprises plastics, cellulose
fibre and superabsorbent polymer, all having huge potential as secondary raw
materials (SRMs). LIFE HUB’n’SPOKE (H&S) partners will set up a pilot plant
to demonstrate the feasibility of reusing materials from AHP waste in consumer
products such as printing paper or plastic pellets. The project team will
foster markets for SRM in Europe by creating a new circular economy model based
on an innovative AHP waste collection and pre-treatment system. They will also
work to optimise the technology used as well as the supply connections between
relevant industries. The project will be coordinated by Fater SpA, an Italian
AHP manufacturer.
Innovative process turns green
waste into biogas and fertiliser (LIFE STEAM)
Green waste, consisting of leaves, wood cuttings, cut grass and
agricultural residues, has high potential for biofuel production through
anaerobic digestion. However, the predominance of non-soluble fibres made of
lignin, called lignocellulosic fibres, currently means such waste is difficult
to degrade, and much is landfilled or incinerated. LIFE STEAM aims to
demonstrate a pilot plant that uses an innovative steam explosion technology to
convert low-value lignocellulosic green waste into high-value biogas and
biomethane as fuel for transport applications, and into a digestate which can
be used as a fertiliser or soil amender. The project team will assess the
economic viability and environmental benefits of the new process. LIFE STEAM
will be led by the Italian environment, water and energy company Hera SpA.
Environmental governance & information (GIE)
Made
green in Italy scheme (LIFE MAGIS)
In 2018, Italy adopted in law the ‘Made Green in Italy’ scheme, the
first national initiative based on the EU Product Environmental Footprint
(PEF). Through the scheme, the environmental footprint of products can be
evaluated, providing guidance to consumers and helping companies reduce their
environmental impacts. The LIFE MAGIS project will be run by the Italian
technology and energy agency ENEA. Its team will target consumers and producers
to support the launch and spread of the PEF method and of the PEF-based ‘Made
Green in Italy’ scheme. They will also define category rules that will underpin
PEF studies on a number of product types: food products (snacks, ice cream,
fruit, cheese and coffee), leather products, window fittings and cosmetics.
A new approach to cut waste
and boost recycling (LIFE-REthinkWASTE)
The EU has a recycling target of 65% by 2035. Many areas across Europe
are still below this level, but some municipalities have reached separate
collection rates of 80-85% using innovative incentive schemes. ‘Pay as you
throw’ is one of the most effective ways to increase recycling. But uptake in
southern Europe is poor, with waste fees not reflecting the amounts generated.
This hampers better waste separation and recycling. LIFE-REthinkWASTE aims to
provide public authorities with ready-to-use decision support system software to
get ‘pay as you throw’ recycling up and running. The goal of the project, led
by the public utilities company ETRA, is to increase separate collection of
waste, reduce residual waste per capita and boost the recovery rate, whilst
simultaneously cutting the average household waste bill.
Wild pollinator conservation
in the Mediterranean (LIFE 4 POLLINATORS)
Wild pollinators have declined because of changes in land use, intensive
agriculture, pesticides, pollution, invasive alien species, diseases and
climate change. Research suggests almost one-tenth of the EU’s wild bees are
threatened with extinction, while data are lacking for over half. Information
is particularly scarce on the Mediterranean basin, which harbours the majority
of endemic wild bees and is considered a biodiversity hotspot. The knowledge
gap on wild pollinators and their role is one of the main obstacles to halting
this decline in the Mediterranean. Researchers from the University of Bologna
leading this LIFE project seek to improve pollinator conservation by raising
awareness about the problem and the importance of wild pollinators.
Cutting microplastic pollution
of lakes in Germany and Italy (LIFE BLUE LAKES)
High levels of microplastic pollution have been found in lakes, even in
remote locations. Microplastics get into the food chain and accumulate in
animal species, with negative consequences for human health. One source of
these particles entering the aquatic ecosystem is wastewater treatment plants.
The project team from Legambiente, Italy’s largest environmental organisation,
seeks to prevent and reduce microplastic waste in five lakes in Germany and
Italy, by combining governance, training, information and awareness-raising
activities. It will produce a
support tool and suggestions on plastic waste treatment, discharge limits,
monitoring programmes and improvements to the wastewater treatment process.
Climate Change Adaptation (CCA)
Traditional dry-stone walls
regenerated as a climate change adaptation tool (STONEWALLSFORLIFE)
Drystone terraces are considered an important measure in the
Mediterranean region to counteract the effects of climate change on the local
economy and environment, and prevent soil loss. The STONEWALLSFORLIFE project
team will demonstrate the viability of drystone terraces as a climate change
adaptation measure in the Cinque Terre National Park in Italy. Park authorities
running the project will restore abandoned drystone terraces for use by local
farmers. Innovative techniques will be used to improve the performance of
drystone terraces in terms of drainage and landslide prevention. Additional
techniques will be trialled in Spain to also counteract wildfires.
Climate Change Mitigation (CCM)
Data building for better
managed, more resilient mountain forests (GreenChainSAW4LIFE)
Rural mountain areas are critical for achieving climate mitigation
targets. However, unmanaged reforestation and land abandonment has reduced
their resilience. The GreenChainSAW4LIFE project, run by laser and plasma tech
company Iris S.r.l, will demonstrate a new participatory model of forest
management which meets energy and climate adaptation and mitigation objectives.
The project partners will bring together local rural forestry managers in
northern Italy and create an online decision-support system with data on forest
resources, a business model and a carbon flow calculator for different forest
management scenarios.
Greener refrigeration in the
ice-cream sector (LIFE ICEGREEN)
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are used in a variety of refrigeration
equipment, such as commercial ice cream machines. When released into the
atmosphere, HFCs have significant global warming potential and contribute to
almost 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Propane is an excellent and
economic substitute, with near-zero global warming potential. Nemox
International s.r.l, the ice cream machine producer leading the project, aims
to show that using propane as a refrigerant in innovative commercial ice cream
machines is technically feasible, safe and commercially viable. This is in line
with the EU’s F-gas regulation, under which HFCs must be phased out and
replaced with alternatives that have near-zero global warming potential.
Preventing soil degradation in
the Emilian Apennines (LIFE agriCOlture)
Many hilly and mountainous areas of central Italy suffer from soil
degradation due to intensification of agriculture on the most productive land
and the abandonment of land that has deteriorated. The loss of soil organic
carbon is an indicator of this problem. Under LIFE agriCOlture, the land
reclamation authority of Emilia Centrale plans to apply sustainable soil
management techniques and show their effectiveness in protecting soil organic
carbon in mountainous areas of the Emilian Apennines, a region prone to soil
degradation.
Climate Governance & Information (GIC)
Collaborative transformation
of urban green spaces in Mediterranean cities (LIFE CLIVUT)
Urban green spaces are a critical resource for cities to become more
climate resilient, supporting air quality, soil stability, biodiversity and
noise reduction. LIFE CLIVUT, run by the civil engineering department at the
University of Perugia, will develop an urban green asset strategy for four
medium-sized Mediterranean cities in Italy, Greece and Portugal, to help city
planners make the most of their urban green spaces. The project team will get
businesses and city residents involved in this strategy, encouraging businesses
to sign up to climate-responsible business practices. Its tree planting will
remove 230 tonnes of CO2 and 2 600 tonnes of particulate matter from the air
per year. The team will also help restore native plants and trees, and
eradicate invasive alien species which harm biodiversity in the cities.
Deepening international
cooperation on emissions trading (LIFE DICET)
There is a need for enhanced international cooperation to integrate
global carbon markets. The EU Emissions Trading System plays a world-leading
role in this area. The LIFE DICET project team from the European University
Institute aims to support policymakers at EU and Member State level in their
efforts to deepen international cooperation on developing and integrating
carbon markets. In particular, the project will help regulators and
policymakers acquire knowledge of how carbon markets function, and communicate
and exchange relevant information. The institute will establish an expert
group, a carbon market policy dialogue between the European Commission and
other regulators, and a knowledge-sharing platform.
Project summary
Maggiori dettagli:
https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/news/eu-invests-240-million-nature-environment-and-climate-action
