1. Volunteers invest time and effort to make our future green http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/ lifefocus/documents/stakeholders.pdf (pages 20, 24-27) One of the key forces behind the success of the EU’s LIFE conservation programmes is the active role of volunteers. Those unsung heroes carry out countless tasks, enabling projects to be implemented in a cost efficient way and ensuring their long term sustainability once the EU funding period is over. Their enthusiasm and skills has helped restore wetlands in the Belgian Lorraine, combat invasive plant species in Portugal and create bear habitats in Spain. Some, like members of a Spanish scuba diving clubs, are helping monitor marine vegetation and combine work on projects with personal passion. For others, investing time in volunteering work is a way to rediscover their culture and traditions – people helping combat deforestation on the island of Réunion were keen to learn about the species of plants that are part of their natural heritage, and were used by their ancestors for healing purposes.

2. Investing in education to reduce e-waste Energy waste (e.g. batteries and phones) is one of the fastest growing forms of waste in EU landfills. To ensure proper collection and recycling, Slovenia began a public relations campaign about e-waste. This involved a multimedia truck visiting over 200 schools to show how e-waste should be collected. Open days were also hosted at local collection points to answer people’s questions. In the end the campaign reached more than half of the Slovenian population and helped collect more than 540 tonnes of e-waste. It proved that investing in citizens’ awareness is an essential step in making a greener future a reality. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/ bestprojects/documents/bestenv14.pdf (pages 27-29)

3. Investing in green skills stimulates jobs and grow Staying up to date on the techniques needed to make energy saving renovations is essential for master craftsmen. In southern Denmark, the Green Business Growth in SMEs programme helps master craftsmen to retrain so that they can propose greener building methods to their customers. In addition to skills training, the SMEs received marketing support packages. The programme created 165 new green jobs between 2010 and 2013. While the support from the EU Regional Investment Fund has now ended, the project continues to promote energy efficiency in buildings. http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/projects/denmark/ developing-green-master-craftsmen-to-save-energy-and-generate-jobs

4. © WWF Uganda Coffee farmers learn that investing in conservation can help their incomes too In Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains, population growth has put a strain on this biodiversity hotspot. One of the goals of an EU-supported project was to make the local community members realise the value of their ecosystems and teach them how they can benefit from them in a long term by using them sustainably. A financial mechanism was put in place to support investments in community-based tourism for the local national park, improving land management, and promoting sustainable farming to coffee farmers in partnership with the WWF. Pressure on the park’s natural resources is now reduced, while local people have improved their incomes and quality of life. https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/case-studies/improving-lives-while- conserving-nature-rwenzori-mountains-western-uganda_en