The EU Nature Restoration Law: What do we think?

Late on Thursday the 9th of November 2023, negotiators from the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on the EU Nature Restoration Law. This is undoubtedly a significant development in EU nature conservation, but what will it mean?

Restoration Targets:
The agreement calls for EU countries to commit to restoring 20% of land and sea areas by 2030, extending to complete restoration for all ecosystems by 2050.

Agricultural Ecosystems:
Measures to restore nature in agricultural lands include achieving a positive trend in indicators by 2030. There is also a focus on restoring drained peatlands, as a cost-effective option for emission reduction.

Other Ecosystems:
By 2030, EU countries aim for a positive trend in forest Ecosystem Indicators, planting an additional three billion trees, and restoring at least 25,000 km of rivers into free-flowing states. Urban green spaces are also to be safeguarded.

While noteworthy, this legislative stride to restore Europe's natural heritage has come late. There is an urgent need to address habitat degradation and biodiversity loss, made clearer by climate change related extreme events continuing to grow in frequency and magnitude. Timely and decisive action is imperative for creating a sustainable future.

Let's get moving!

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