The EU Nature Restoration Law seeks to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems by 2050. 80% of EU habitats are in bad or poor conservation status.
The EU Commission’s impact assessment put the economic benefits of restoring ecosystems by 2050 at about €1.86 trillion and estimated it would cost about €154 billion. They state the climate mitigation benefits alone outweigh the cost of action. So the aim is this law is to restore ecosystems, habitats and species across the EU’s land and seas. Specific targets includes:
- Implementing existing legislation for improving and re-establishing wetlands, forests, rivers and lakes, heath and scrub and dunes
- Reversing the decline in pollinating insects and increase populations
- No loss of green urban space and increase area by 2030
- Agricultural ecosystems increase high-diversity landscape features, restore drained peatlands and increase farmland birds and insects
- Remove river barriers – restore 25k km rivers to free-flowing by 2030
- Restore marine ecosystems particularly for dolphins, porpoises, and seabirds
The law garnered significant political debate in Europe and Ireland particularly around whether it could negatively impact farmers. Following a number of debates it was approved in the Oireachtas by 121 TDs, with 9 abstaining or voting against. The Government have stated that all restoration actions on farmland will be voluntary, and measures will initially be implemented on state owned lands.
All member states will have to submit a National Restoration Plan to the Commission in mid-2026 showing how national targets will be achieved.
