EU passes landmark nature law to restore 20% of Europe's land

The European Union (EU) has this week passed a landmark bill aimed at protecting nature in Europe, setting a target to restore at least 20% of its land and sea by 2030.

The legislation, given the green light on Tuesday [27 February], demands the EU's 27 member states also put in measures to restore all ecosystems by 2050.

The rules are a central part of the EU's ambitious environmental goals under the Green Deal – a set of laws aimed at helping the bloc meet its climate goals.

The agreement between Parliament and Member States' negotiators was already reached in November 2023, when the draft law caused the conservative European People's Party (EPP) to attempt to water down the text at the end of the year.

Corncrake is one of several threatened species to be given special assistance from EU-funded projects (Martyn Jones).

 

Green hope

As a result of the new law, farmers have taken to the streets across Europe in recent days, clogging roads including in Brussels where EU institutions are based. They lament what they claim are excessively restrictive environmental rules, competition from imports from outside the EU and low incomes.

"Today is an important day for Europe, as we move from protecting and conserving nature to restoring it," said Cesar Luena, the lawmaker who spearheaded the legislation through parliament.

"The new law will also help us to fulfil many of our international environmental commitments. The regulation will restore degraded ecosystems while respecting the agricultural sector by giving flexibility to member states."

 

Nature Restoration Law

With more than 80% of European habitats in poor shape, the EU Nature Restoration Law aims to restore degraded ecosystems in all Member States, help achieve the EU's climate and biodiversity objectives and enhance food security.

To reach the overall targets, EU countries must restore at least 30% of habitats covered by the new law (from forests, grasslands and wetlands to rivers, lakes and coral beds) from poor to good condition by 2030, increasing to 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050.

Until 2030, they should also give priority to Natura 2000 areas – which is a network of protected areas covering Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats, both on land and at sea.