European Regulation on Nature Restoration published

The landmark European Nature Restoration Law - Regulation (EU) 2024/1991, on nature restoration, has now been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation is the first continent-wide law on nature restoration. During its inception it was viewed as one of the most controversial pillars of the European Green Deal, but this Regulation is in fact a key element of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2023.

Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 sets ambitious Europe wide targets to restore degraded ecosystems, including at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.

More than 80% of European habitats are classified as being in 'poor shape' and previous efforts to preserve and protect nature haven't been able to resolve this. With European nature in 'alarming decline' the measures in this Regulation seek to restore ecosystems, habitats and species across the EU’s land and sea areas in order to benefit people, the climate and the planet. The measures are designed to:

• enable the long-term and sustained recovery of biodiverse and resilient nature;
• contribute to achieving the EU’s climate mitigation and climate adaptation objectives;
• meet international commitments.

The Regulation establishes a framework for Member States to put in place effective and area-based restoration measures with the aim to jointly cover, as a Union target, the areas and ecosystems in scope. Legally binding targets are set for Member Stares in relation to:

• the restoration of wetlands, forests, grasslands, river and lakes, heath & scrubs, rocky habitats and dunes. These must be improved and biodiverse habitats re-established, bringing back species populations by improving and enlarging their habitats;
• reversing the decline of pollinating insect populations by 2030;
• forest ecosystems, including the promotion of forest connectivity and encouraging common forest birds;
  
• no net loss of green urban space and tree cover by 2030, and a steady increase in their total area from 2030;
• increasing grassland butterflies and farmland birds, the stock of organic carbon in cropland mineral soils, and the share of agricultural land with high-diversity landscape features;
• restoring drained peatlands under agricultural use;
• restoring marine habitats such as seagrass beds or sediment bottoms that deliver significant benefits, including for climate change mitigation;
• restoring habitats of iconic marine species such as dolphins and porpoises, sharks and seabirds;
• identifying and removing river barriers that prevent connectivity of surface waters, so at least 25,000 km of rivers are restored to a free-flowing state by 2030;
• planting at least three billion additional trees across the European Union by 2030.

Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 comes into force on 18 August 2024. The measures it establishes are aimed at Member States themselves, not individuals and businesses, however this Regulation will no doubt have implications for decisions relating to planning and projects affecting nature across all Member States.

Member States will be expected to submit a draft of their National Restoration Plans to the European Commission by 1 September 2026, showing how they will deliver on the targets. Member States are also required to ensure they routinely monitor and report on their progress under the objectives of Regulation (EU) 2024/1991.

For more information, see:

• Regulation (EU) 2024/1991, on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869.