Week of recognition for the LIFE Programme

The LIFE Sparc project in Flanders has been featured on Euronews as a succesful example of how nature-based solutions are used to combat deadly floods. The project proposes measures to make the Scheldt estuary in Belgium and its highly urbanised area resilient to climate change. Potential financial damage from floods in the estuary is said to be around €50 million yearly and the area’s 720,000 inhabitants and 10,000 businesses are at risk. The project also promotes recreation and tourism along the estuary to boost the local economy. Trails and playgrounds are being built and team is actively engaging with the public through an yearly festival raising awareness on climate change, training of ambassadors and an education project for children.

Besides, Spanish Senate President Pedro Rollán inaugurated the event titled '20 Years of LIFE Projects' focused on the recovery of the Iberian lynx in the Iberian Peninsula. The event included the screening of the short documentary “The Recovery of the Iberian Lynx in the Iberian Peninsula: 20 Years of LIFE Projects”. The LIFE LYNXCONNECT organised this event and produced the film.

The Iberian lynx has been reclassified from "Endangered" to "Vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), reflecting significant conservation successes. Once on the brink of extinction with only 94 individuals in 2002, which led to classify the species as "Critically Endangered", the population has grown to over 1,000 due to concerted efforts in habitat restoration, prey availability improvement, and breeding programs. Despite this progress, the species remains under threat from habitat fragmentation, road accidents, and disease, necessitating continued conservation measures to ensure its long-term survival. the LIFE Programme has been instrumental in the recovery of the Iberian lynx, significantly contributing to its population growth and its reclassification.

Also in Spain, Elisabet Suárez Vargas has been honored with the Order of Civil Merit by the King of Spain for her exemplary contributions through the LIFE Wood for Future project. This initiative focuses on sustainable forestry and innovative wood product development, aiming to recover Granada-Vega Poplar groves to boost biodiversity and long-term carbon capture through structural bioproducts. Suárez Vargas's work has been pivotal in advancing these goals, making her a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.

The LIFE Olivares Vivos + project also presented its groundbreaking results at the International Olive Council (IOC) headquarters this week. This initiative, aimed at enhancing biodiversity in olive groves in Spain Portugal, Italy and Greece. The project's findings reveal that implementing biodiversity-friendly practices in olive cultivation not only benefits the environment but also benefits farmers by developing a close-to-market approach and a certification scheme for the olive oil produced in this way. The event highlighted the project's success in creating a model for sustainable agriculture that can be replicated globally, emphasizing the importance of integrating conservation efforts with traditional farming practices.