EU Nature Restoration Law Comes Into Force

A conservative law intended to restore natural habitats came into force in Europe, the European Commission announced. It is a crucial aspect of the bloc’s 2030 biodiversity strategy which forms a core area of the European Green Deal.

The new law aims to enable long-term and sustained recovery of biodiverse and resilient nature, to achieve the EU’s climate mitigation and adaptation objectives, and to meet international commitments.

As per the EU figures, nearly 80 percent of the habitats are in poor condition. Additionally, 10% of the bee and butterfly species are threatened with extinction and 70% of the soil is in an unhealthy state.

The law targets to restore at least 20 percent of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050 through regrowing forests, re-wetting moors, and returning rivers to their natural free-flowing states.

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It focuses on increasing organic carbon stock, restoration of drained peatland under agricultural use, and restoration of habitats of marine species such as dolphins, porpoises, sharks, and seabirds, and restoring at least 25,000 km of rivers by 2030.

The EU members would decide themselves which specific measures they want to implement on their territory. Countries are expected to submit National Restoration Plans to the Commission specifying plans and targets. Monitoring and reporting will be under the purview of the countries.

The law has been criticized for being harsh on farmers as it fears heavy restrictions on them.

Reportedly, the loss of European Greens in the European Parliament elections also could make the task tougher to implement completely.