EU commits to restoring 20% of its lands and waters by 2030

The European Union (EU) has agreed on a provisional agreement for a Nature Restoration Law — first proposed by the European Commission in June of last year — that would require member states to introduce measures for the restoration of 20 percent of the bloc’s land and sea ecosystems by 2030.

More than 80 percent of habitats in Europe are in “poor shape,” according to a press release from the European Parliament. The restoration law was proposed with the purpose of helping to repair the damage to nature across the EU, as well as to meet biodiversity and climate goals and international commitments, especially the United Nations Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

In addition to the target of restoring a minimum of 20 percent of land and sea areas by 2030, all ecosystems would need to be restored by 2050.

In order to meet these goals, member nations must restore a minimum of 30 percent of the types of habitat covered by the Nature Restoration Law that are in “poor condition” to a “good condition” by the end of the decade, with an increase to 60 percent by the end of the following decade and 90 percent by 2050, the press release said.

“Europe is engaging, committing, not only to preserve and protect, but also to restore nature,” said Teresa Ribera, Spain’s ecological transition minister, as Reuters reported.

EU member states will need to use a transparent and inclusive process of adopting national restoration plans setting out how they plan to meet the targets, including giving priority to sites that are part of the Natura 2000 network. Co-legislators of the Nature Restoration Law also came to the understanding that after an area has been restored to a good condition, countries will try to make sure it does not deteriorate significantly.

Another part of the new law has to do with peatlands, which are important carbon sinks. Restoring peatlands that have been drained is one of the best ways to reduce agricultural emissions while improving biodiversity.

The new law will require EU member countries to establish organic soil restoration measures in areas used for agriculture that constitute drained peatlands. They must restore a minimum of 30 percent of these areas by 2030 and rewet a quarter; restore 40 percent with a third rewetted by 2040; and restore 50 percent with a third rewetted by 2050. Rewetting will remain a voluntary process for private landowners and farmers.

EU nations will also be required to reverse pollinator decline by 2030 at the latest, with an increasing trend thereafter, measured a minimum of every six years.

EU countries must also put measures in place to achieve an upward trend in several forest ecosystems indicators. Three billion additional trees will need to be planted and more than 15,000 miles of rivers restored to free-flowing status.

Countries must guarantee that urban ecosystems experience no net loss of total urban green space or urban tree canopy cover by the end of the decade, as compared to 2021. This must be increased after 2030, and progress will be measured every six years.

An emergency brake provision was agreed upon so that agricultural ecosystems targets can be suspended in the event of exceptional circumstances related to land required for food production.

“The agreement reached today is a significant collective moment. 70 years after the European project began, a European law for nature restoration is needed to address biodiversity loss,” said César Luena, member of parliament with the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, in the press release.

“Today’s agreement was possible thanks to the initiative and commitment of the Commission, the negotiating role of the Spanish Presidency of the Council, which prioritised this issue, and the understanding attitude of the parliamentary groups, especially the progressive groups, who have been able to work together and compromise to ensure the existence of a nature restoration law. Furthermore, I want to highlight and express gratitude for the crucial role played by the group of the social democrats in these negotiations, as without the unity of the S&D Group in support of this law, we would not be celebrating the adoption of an agreement today.”

The agreement must still be adopted by the European Parliament and Council and will be put before EU member countries and the European Parliament for final approval.