LIFE Awards 2024 Winners: spotlight on Water

The unique and indispensable role that clean water plays in the life of every EU citizen was recognised by the LIFE Special Award 2024 - the first time that water has been so recognised in the programme’s 32 year
history.

‘Water is essential for life. Managing our water resources wisely is crucial for the future of our planet but also for the future of humanity,’ said DG Environment Director General Florika Fink-Hooijer. ‘The entire Green Week was around the theme of water resilience and our campaign See Water Differently, so it was a no-brainer to have a special award for a water project. Tonight, we honour a project that has shown outstanding innovation and impact in water management. Freshabitat LIFE IP made a big splash with both public and media - it was about capacity building, integration, and building passion and commitment among many different stakeholders.’

FreshHabit LIFE IP was among the first tranche of so-called ‘integrated projects’, introduced more than a
decade ago, which bring together multiple stakeholders and funders across different regions. In Finland, this meant integrating freshwater projects in eight different target areas stretching over a 1,000 km from Naamijoki in the far north to Kiskonjoki on the Baltic coast. Its results have been truly impressive basins and submerged weirs; 40 ha of newly built wetlands; 870 ha of restored peatlands; 25 km of restored rivers; 13,300 new stocks of endangered freshwater mussels; and 185 ha of new conservation areas.

Public engagement and support was also essential to the success of the project. FreshHabit LIFE IP organised five volunteer camps which attracted more than 100 participants, each delivering 40 days of voluntary work. There were also 150 ‘nature school days’ which were attended by around 3,000 people interested in learning more about nature and the environment in Finland.

‘LIFE was essential for the success of the project,’ said project manager Jari Ilmonen. ‘At first I was a bit worried about the monster we had created! We had 31 beneficiaries. We were among the first integrated LIFE projects - we learnt a huge amount about managing large projects, and how to involve multiple beneficiaries. We are all very proud of this Special Award.’

Several endangered species have also benefitted, including the once-plentiful freshwater pearl mussels.

According to the project’s Layman’s Report, ‘In the rivers of southern Finland, there were mostly old freshwater pearl mussels that are in a poor condition and do not have the strength to reproduce. The River Ähtävänjoki freshwater pearl mussels have spent a successful romantic spa break at the Konnevesi research station and, under careful supervision, the first test tube babies have been returned to their home river to grow.’ Sea trout (which spawn in freshwater rivers), salmon, roach and birds such as gulls and waders are also making a comeback.

‘The project was only a success because we had an amazing team and very good partners,’ added Jari Ilmonen. ‘We’re already applying a lot of the lessons learned in new projects.’

FreshHabit LIFE IP has developed new methods and models which are already being adopted elsewhere in the EU, with a focus on Natura 2000 sites. The LIFE Programme is the EU's funding instrument for the environment and climate action. Since 1992 it has co-financed more than 6,000 projects across the EU and other countries. Applications are now open for 571 EUR million worth of funding for LIFE projects in 2024.