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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

An educational kit dedicated to the Crau Grasshopper

Published: Octobre 16 2023

The Conservatoire d’espaces naturels de Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, La Barben Zoo and the Zoological Park of the Museum of Besançon have produced an educational kit to be used at local events  to raise awareness among ...

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Communicating and raising awareness

New treasure hunt game “In search of Mr Crau Grasshopper”

Published: Octobre 02 2023

 

Since last spring, the Ecomusée has been offering visitors the chance to take advantage of their visit to go in search of “Mr Crau Grasshopper”.

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Communicating and raising awareness

An InterLIFE trip for the Crau Grasshopper

Published: Septembre 29 2023

The Crau grasshopper is becoming increasingly popular, and there are many national and international requests for information on this unique insect. Lisbeth Zechner, LIFE SOS Crau grasshopper project manager at the Conservatoire ...

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Breeding and reintroduction
Deux oothèques ressemblant à deux tas de terre

A new generation of grasshoppers for 2024

Published: Septembre 07 2023

The Crau grasshoppers were busy at the start of the summer! Having become adults within a few weeks timeframe and after undergoing five moults, the grasshoppers from the three breeding stations (La Barben Zoological Park, Besançon Museum ...

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