Historic Win for Europe's Nature: the Nature Restoration Law

After extensive discussions, the EU has ratified the Nature Restoration Law, a pioneering regulation designed to rehabilitate Europe's deteriorating ecosystems and enhance biodiversity.

Understanding the Nature Restoration Law

The Nature Restoration Law sets an ambitious target to rejuvenate at least 20 percent of the EU’s terrestrial and marine areas by 2030, with a further goal of restoring all degraded ecosystems by 2050. This unprecedented, continent-spanning legislation mandates specific targets and responsibilities for EU member states to revitalize their natural habitats, 80 percent of which are currently in poor condition.

The law emphasizes the restoration of ecosystems with significant carbon capture and storage potential, including wetlands, rivers, forests, grasslands, urban areas, and marine environments, along with the species they support. Its objectives are to bolster biodiversity, leverage natural processes to purify air and water, pollinate crops, enhance food security, and mitigate the effects of natural disasters such as floods. As an integral part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, the Nature Restoration Law aims to help Europe fulfill its Paris Agreement commitment to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Implications of the Approved Nature Restoration Law for Europe

Under this new legislation, EU member states will focus on the restoration of Natura 2000 protected areas, which encompass Europe's most precious and endangered species and habitats. Areas in poor condition will be required to undergo restoration by at least 30 percent by 2030, 60 percent by 2040, and 90 percent by 2050.