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What is LIFE?

The LIFE programme (Financial Instrument for the Environment) is one of the European Commission’s main financial tools to support projects in the fields of environment and climate. It is open to public and private applicants and aims to promote and finance innovative projects in areas such as species and habitat conservation, soil protection, air and water quality improvement, waste management and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Objective: save the Crau Plain Grasshopper from probable extinction

The species is classified as “critically endangered” on all red lists: global, European, national and regional. Since January 2007, it is protected in France. The actions of the LIFE SOS Crau Crau Grasshopper are focused on four major objectives:

  1. Increase the area of favourable habitat by reopening the coussoul and adapting grazing management.
  2. Reduce threats such as predation by insectivorous birds in colonies by studying, monitoring and managing the nesting sites of these species.
  3. Improve the captive breeding of the Crau Plain Grasshopper and start a reintroduction programme.
  4. Communicate, educate and raise awareness of the Crau Plain Grasshopper, its preservation issues and its ecosystem via communication tools, training, sharing and dissemination of technical results.

The Crau Plain Grasshopper is a so-called “umbrella” species. The preservation of this very rare and threatened species means protecting its natural habitat and all the species associated with this habitat.

 

Public involvement

Various audiences will be involved on a local, regional, national and international scale: the general public, schoolchildren, farmers and shepherds, naturalists and experts, local politicians and landowners.

News

 
Communicating and raising awareness

LIFE SOS Crau Grasshopper proudly represented at the 2022 Médoc Marathon

Published: Septembre 22 2022

On Saturday 10 September, the coordinator of the LIFE SOS Crau Grasshopper programme – Lisbeth Zechner – took advantage of an original setting to honour our Crau Plain Grasshopper: the

 
Breeding and reintroduction

Cathy Gibault, veterinarian dedicated to the Crau Plain Grasshopper

Published: Septembre 19 2022

Cathy Gibault is a veterinarian who has worked for more than 15 years in zoos on conservation programmes for threatened species. Since 2014, she has been contributing to the improvement of knowledge about the Crau Plain Grasshopper. Today ...

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Communicating and raising awareness

A dance dedicated to the Crau Plain Grasshopper

Published: Août 24 2022

A look back at the weekend of 23 and 24 July at the zoological garden of La Barben:

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Communicating and raising awareness

Conference at the Besançon zoo

Published: Août 01 2022

On 13, 14 & 15 August, the Citadelle of Besançon is organising a great weekend for the conservation of fauna and flora. On the programme: a conference on the Crau Plain Grasshopper.

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