The European Parliament approved last week a comprehensive nature restoration law, aiming to revitalize ecosystems, habitats, and species across EU land and sea areas.
The overarching goal is to promote the recovery of diverse and resilient nature, while also contributing to the EU’s climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
The law combines a general objective of restoring nature with specific targets for certain habitats and species. By 2030, measures under this law should cover at least one-fifth of the EU’s land and sea areas, with the ultimate goal of restoring all ecosystems in need by 2050.
Specific targets are set in the legislation for various habitats, including wetlands, forests, grasslands, rivers, lakes, heaths, scrubs, rocky habitats, and dunes.
It also outlines objectives for pollinating insects, forest ecosystems, urban ecosystems, agricultural ecosystems, marine ecosystems, and river connectivity. For example, the law aims to reverse the decline of pollinator populations by 2030, ensure no net loss of green urban spaces by the same year, and restore 25,000 km of rivers to a free-flowing state.
The new law represents a significant step in the EU’s commitment to safeguarding biodiversity and combating climate change.
Even if you're not in the EU, you can take action by spreading awareness about the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem restoration in your community.
More information is available here.