Four Finnish environmental projects to be awarded among Europe’s best
Lehtikuva / Mikko Stig One of the awarded Life+ projects enhanced the protection of the endangered Lesser White-fronted GooseThe European Commission will reward the Best Life+ -Environment Projects 2009 in June. Four out of the 46 award-winning projects were located in Finland.
The Vattaja Dune Life - project protected the Vattaja sand area of the coastal municipality of Lohtaja in Western Finland. Vattaja dunes are Finland’s biologically most important dune area and at the same time a major shooting ground and recreation area of the Finnish Defense Forces. The 1.8 million euro budget was spent on the adaptation of the area’s recreational and army use with nature conservation and the restoration of damaged nature.
The Lesser White-fronted Goose Life - project worked towards enhancing the protection of the lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus), which is an endangered species in the Nordic Countries. The protection was strengthened for instance by satellite monitoring and information distribution. The project’s total budget was 1.1 million euros.
The Green Belt Life - project improved the protection level of thirteen Natura 2000 areas located in Kainuu and Koillismaa. The project budget of 1.17 euros was spent for instance on forest restoration.
The development project for preventing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) worked towards developing technologies, which reduce VOC release in mechanic and semi-chemical pulping process. The total cost of the project was 580 000 euros.
Life+ is a European Union funding tool, which seeks to improve the implementation of the EU environmental politics and legislation. The EU funded fifty percent of each of the awarded projects.
