Comunità Ambiente provides technical. scientific and administrative assistance in the development, monitoring and management of projects, produces studies and offers services in different areas related to biodiversity and ecosystem services (agriculture, fisheries, human health) for both local, regional and national authorities and for the European Commission.
By partnering with experts in graphics, the company is able to provide assistance in the preparation of publications, websites and promotional material.
Preparation and monitoring of projects on nature and biodiversity conservation
From 1994 to 2005, as a member of the consortium Mecomat G.E.I.E, Comunità Ambiente has provided technical and scientific support and assistance on tasks relating to the Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE) in Italy, Slovenia and Malta, monitoring about of 160 LIFE Nature projects.
Since then, Comunità Ambiente has provided scientific/technical and financial support for the drafting of projects, in particular LIFE, but also Horizon, and the subsequent monitoring of their implementation.
The experience gained over the years in the evaluation and monitoring of projects, combined with that gained in the field of the European and national funding for nature conservation, has allowed the staff to achieve a high degree of technical expertise in drafting and monitoring of European and national projects for the conservation of habitats and species of Community interest, as well as research projects in support of biodiversity.
National and international studies
In the framework of contracts with the EU Commission, the Italian Environment Ministry, and Regional and local public administrations, Comunità Ambiente has participated in scientific and technical surveys and studies. Among these the updating of the EU Guidance document on the strict protection of animal species of Community interest under the Habitats Directive, the development of a common methodology to assess the impact of fishing in marine Natura 2000 sites, a study on good agricultural practices within the European ecological network, and the impacts and the economic costs of biodiversity change on human health, in particular in relation to the spread of vector borne diseases and the production of medicines, a series of management models of habitats and species that need a recurrent active management, guidelines for compensation measures according to art.6 of the Habitats Directive, wildlife and sustainable agriculture in Natura 2000 sites, the evaluation of the implementation of 13 EU management plans on huntable bird species, the analysis of progress tackling bycatch of species protected under the Nature Directives in Italy.
Publishing
A simple but correct scientific dissemination represents the base of a good understanding of the environmental value of a specific territory. Among its activities Comunità Ambiente has produced press releases, informational and scientific publications for the Environment Directorate of the EU Commission, among which “Sustanaible hunting in the Natura 2000 network”, “Alien species and nature conservation in the EU: The role of the LIFE program”, “The integrated management of Natura 2000 sites. The contribution of LIFE Nature projects”, “LIFE for birds. 25 years of the Birds Directive implementation through the LIFE Nature financial tool”, celebrating 25 years of the Birds Directive.
For the European Commission, Comunità Ambiente also edited the Brochure on the application of articles 6.3 and 6.4, the publications “Case studies linking cultural heritage with policies dealing with Natura 2000 and biodiversity” and “Natural and Cultural Heritage in Europe: Working together within the Natura 2000 Network”, and the study “Literature study on the impact of biodiversity changes on human health”. Since 2007, Comunità Ambiente has been producing the “Composite reports” on the application of the derogations issued by the Member States under art. 16 of the Habitats Directive and art. 9 of the Birds Directive. Comunità Ambiente takes care of the Italian version of the EU Commission “Natura 2000 newsletter”. Among the publications for the Italian Environment Ministry, Comunità Ambiente has produced a book on the contribution of LIFE projects to the Italian Natura 2000 network, “Il bilancio di LIFE Natura in Italia. Indicazioni e prospettive per il futuro”.
Comunità Ambiente staff members are co-authors of books and articles on nature conservation of international relevance.
Management plans of the Natura 2000 sites
According to Art.6 of the Habitats Directive EU Member States should protect habitats and species within Natura 2000 through, if needed, management plans. National and local Italian administrations are collaborating in producing these plans, using different funds.
Comunità Ambiente has provided assistance to the Rome and the Prato Provinces for the preparation of Natura 2000 management plans and verified the correspondence of the plans to regional, national and EU legislation. The competence in this field has been acquired in assessing Natura 2000 management plans for the EU Commission and in monitoring the procedures of EU Member States for the approval of the plans.
Organization of workshops and meetings
Comunità Ambiente has organized for the European Commission several meetings, in collaboration with national authorities in Italy, Slovenia and Malta. Seminars were also organized for the Italian Ministry of the Environment. Comunità Ambiente has been also responsible for the preparation and organization of workshops of European relevance, including drafting the agendas, contacting and registering the participants and preparing the promotional material. The meetings were attended by representatives of the European Commission, representatives of national, regional and local administrations as well as representatives of environmental associations.
Technical and financial monitoring of European projects
The experience gained over the years in the evaluation and monitoring of LIFE projects, combined with that gained in the field of the European funds, has allowed the staff to achieve a high degree of technical expertise in evaluative monitoring of projects cofounded by the EU, in addition to LIFE projects, such as Interreg and research projects (Horizon Europe).
Monitoring activities are based on the Logical Framework methodology and on monitoring indicators accordingly identified, and include:
- monitoring partners activities
- comparison of proposed objectives, results achieved and activities carried out
- comparison between the project chronogram and deadlines and the actual implementation,
- milestone achievement and deliverable realization
- comparison between allocated budget and expenditure
- identification of possible difficulties or critical issues in the implementation of the activities and proposals for overcoming them
- possible improvements to the effectiveness of the project
- writing of monitoring reports
Technical and administrative management of European projects
Thanks to the extensive experience gained in the conception, drafting, monitoring and evaluation of projects financed with European funds, in particular through the LIFE programme, the staff of Comunità Ambiente coordinates different types of projects, taking care of the various management aspects, from the coordination of the partnership, to the organization of activities and roles, the quality control of the activities and products developed, the drafting of technical reports for the European Commission, the financial and administrative management of the project.