This source of funds, introduced for the first time ever in September 07, seems to have been badly undersubscribed. In the UK only 3 applications were made.
Whilst this financing cannot support major infrastructure, it can fund signage, information points and possibly walkways. Restricted to EU environmental issues, it seems especially well suited to collaborative projects involving more than one zoo or botanic garden or similar organisation.
This programme could double the finance available to a given grouping or single organisation on a theme such as endangered amphibian species native to Europe. or European carnivores. A collaborative, project seen to be funded by the EU would also have the benefit of elevating the zoo community’s identity in the public arena.
The remit of the Inf & Com component (unlike the rather tight other LIFE+ components) is wide to the point of complete vagueness. Furthermore, various lobbying missions on my part to DG Environment before LIFE+ was finally formulated stressed the huge public awareness raising potential inherent in zoos, and seems to have met with some results. So a funding programme in part specifically designed to address zoo potential risk now being ignored by them.
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