Here you will find a series of inspiring environmental success stories - from protecting and restoring nature, to reducing waste and pollution, and acting on the climate crisis.
With the help of EU funding, these projects are helping to implement the European Green Deal on the ground. They contribute to the shift towards a circular, energy efficient, climate-neutral Europe and help protect and improve the quality of the environment.
The European Union funds projects that protect and restore the environment, across Europe and beyond. The LIFE programme, for example, is the EU's funding instrument entirely dedicated to environmental, climate and energy objectives. It has already written thousands of success stories since 1992.
Discover a variety of these successful projects below.
Bears and highways don't mix—or do they? In Greece, bear-vehicle collisions dropped dramatically thanks to bear-proof fences, virtual deterrents, and smart warning systems. Learn how innovative measures are saving wildlife and making roads safer for everyone!
Did you know golden jackals are making a natural comeback in Austria? The Golden Jackal Project is rallying citizens, hunters, and scientists to track this secretive species. From bioacoustic monitoring to wildlife detection dogs, discover how Austria is mapping their golden jackals!
Here we explore the theme of EU Green Week 2024, looking at how technological innovation combined with effective legislation and policy implantation can help create a #WaterWiseEU.
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Success stories (71)
RSSSeveral LIFE projects have helped restore Europe’s threatened mussel populations.
LIFE to alvars restored 2 500 hectares of alvar grassland in Estonia, involving local farmers in the process.
What’s life like for a wolf in a human world? The LIFE WolfAlps project’s immersive exhibition transported more than 50,000 visitors into the mountains, through forests and meadows, into villages and roads, all while taking on the perspective of a young wolf!
How to help lynx cross borders and prevent inbreeding? The "Living with Carpathian Spirits" project unites Slovakia and Switzerland to strengthen lynx populations. It managed to improve monitoring techniques, relocate lynx to boost genetic diversity and educate 12 500 lay people on the species!
Ready for an adventure in the wild? Austria's Lynx Trail invites hikers for a 220 km route through natural forests where the European lynx still roams. Connecting three protected areas, this trail blends ecotourism with conservation and received a wave of attention from the media and tourists.
After facing extinction twice, lynx in the Dinaric-SE Alpine region are getting another chance! The LIFE Lynx project is stabilising their population by relocating healthy lynx from Romania and Slovakia. Lynx numbers are rising, and even several litters of offspring were observed in the last years!
Explore how German shepherds are safeguarding their herds with the help of livestock guardian dogs! The Association for livestock guardian dogs trains different dog breeds and offers seminars to support farmers in exchange for a fee – which makes the association financially viable!
In Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, the association "Livestock Protection plus Hund e.V." is helping livestock owners protect their herds with trained livestock guardian dogs and effective fencing. The result? Zero sheep lost to wolves among members! Discover how collaboration makes coexistence possible.
For more than 30 years, the SCALP project has been uniting Alpine countries to monitor lynx populations. By developing the now well-known SCALP Criteria, it has standardised how we record the animals’ occurrence, which has then been adapted to other large carnivore species such as wolves and bears.
Over 500 middle and high school students have already completed Project Hero’s Wolf Quests that explore the complex relationship between humans and wolves. Through interactive games and real-world case studies, students create innovative solutions for coexistence. Ready to embark on the Quest?