In June 2024, the European Union took a decisive step towards environmental protection by approving the Nature Restoration Law.
This landmark legislation aims to restore 20% of the EU's land and marine areas by 2030 and all degraded ecosystems by 2050.
This law responds urgently to Europe's biodiversity crisis, with over 80% of its habitats in poor condition.
EU Approves Revolutionary Nature Restoration Law |
The Approval Process
The journey to approving this law began on June 22, 2022, when the European Commission presented the proposal as part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, a key component of the European Green Deal.
The proposal was based on extensive public consultations and stakeholder workshops held from November 2020 to April 2021 to gather opinions on the main elements of the initiative and its potential social and economic impacts.
After the initial proposal, the European Parliament approved the final text of the law on February 27, 2024, and the Council of the European Union gave its final approval on June 17, 2024.
This process involved intense debates and negotiations, reflecting the complexity and importance of the legislation for EU member states and the global community.
Objectives and Targets of the Law
The Nature Restoration Law combines an overarching long-term restoration objective with specific targets for habitats and species. Key targets include:
- Restoring Degraded Ecosystems: Cover at least 20% of the EU's land and marine areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.
- Pollinator Protection: Reverse the decline of pollinator populations by 2030 and establish an increasing trend for these populations.
- Forest Ecosystems: Increase the amount of standing and lying deadwood, promote uneven-aged forests, improve forest connectivity, and increase the stock of organic carbon.
- Urban Green Spaces: Ensure no net loss of urban green space and tree cover by 2030, and progressively increase the total area of these spaces from 2030.
- Agricultural Ecosystems: Increase populations of grassland butterflies and farmland birds, the stock of organic carbon in cropland soils, and the proportion of agricultural land with high-diversity landscape features.
- Marine Ecosystems: Restore marine habitats such as seagrass beds and sediment bottoms, and protect iconic marine species.
- River
Connectivity: Remove barriers that prevent the
connectivity of surface waters, aiming to restore at least 25,000 km of
rivers to a free-flowing state by 2030.
Implementation and Monitoring
EU countries are expected to submit National Restoration Plans to the European Commission by mid-2026, detailing how they will meet the set targets.
The European Environment Agency will be responsible for regular technical reports on progress towards the targets, while the Commission will report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the law.
Implications of the Law
The approval of the Nature Restoration Law represents a significant advancement for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation in Europe.
Restoring degraded ecosystems will bring substantial economic benefits, with estimates suggesting that every euro invested in nature restoration can generate between €4 to €38 in benefits.
These benefits include improved food security, protection against natural disasters, and climate change mitigation.
The legislation also strengthens the EU's commitment to international agreements, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, habitat restoration will contribute to human and animal health, supporting the "One Health" approach that recognizes the intrinsic connection between human, animal, and environmental health.
Conclusion
The approval of the Nature Restoration Law by the European Union is a historic milestone that reflects the urgency and importance of concrete actions to protect and restore our ecosystems.
With ambitious targets and a robust implementation plan, this law has the potential to transform Europe's environmental landscape, ensuring a more sustainable and resilient future for all.
To access the full text of the Nature RestorationLaw.
References: (Environment) (EUR-Lex).
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