The European Parliament has approved the EU Nature Restoration Law, which will help restore degraded ecosystems.
The need to restore Europe’s ecosystems is evident. According to the Red List of Threatened Species, 19% of European species are threatened with extinction. Over 80% of habitats in Europe are in poor conditions. Wetlands have shrunk by 50% in Western, Central, and Eastern Europe since 1970. Additionally, up to 70% of EU soils are in an unhealthy condition, contributing to a loss in agricultural productivity of 1.25 billion euros a year.
The decline in biodiversity and the accompanying environmental shifts stem from many interconnected factors, each contributing to Europe’s complex ecological puzzle. One prominent driver of biodiversity loss is the industrialization of agricultural practices, characterized by the widespread conversion of natural habitats into farmland and monoculture crops. This process leads to the direct loss of habitat and disrupts intricate ecosystems, diminishing the availability of resources and shelter for countless plant and animal species. Furthermore, over-harvesting of natural resources, such as fish, increases the strain on already vulnerable populations, threatening their survival and disrupting the delicate balance of ecosystems.
See also: The European Union’s New Soil Monitoring Law.
Pollution, stemming from various sources such as industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and urban waste, threatens European biodiversity. Contaminants infiltrate waterways, soil, and air, poisoning habitats and compromising the health of both terrestrial and aquatic organisms. Urbanization compounds these environmental pressures as burgeoning cities encroach upon natural landscapes, fragmenting habitats and displacing wildlife. Moreover, expanding infrastructure and transportation networks introduces additional stressors, including habitat fragmentation, noise pollution, and increased mortality rates due to vehicle collisions.
In addition, leisure activities affect Europe’s biodiversity. Recreational pursuits such as hiking, camping, and off-road vehicles can disturb sensitive ecosystems and trample vegetation and nesting sites for birds and other wildlife. Similarly, the burgeoning tourism industry strains popular natural attractions, leading to overcrowding, habitat degradation, and increased littering in pristine environments.
To protect local biodiversity, the European Commission launched the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 in 2020. This strategy laid out a ten-year plan to address protected areas, nature restoration, organic farming, and the reduction of agricultural chemicals.
The goal is to enhance our societies’ ability to withstand future challenges like climate change effects, forest fires, food shortages, and disease outbreaks. This involves safeguarding wildlife and combatting illegal wildlife trade. It was also established to help support a green recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The EU Nature Restoration Law
Under the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 is the EU Nature Restoration Law, the first continent-wide, comprehensive law of its kind. The EU Nature Restoration Law aims to restore ecosystems, habitats, and species across the European Union’s land and sea areas.
Implementing the EU Nature Restoration Law would help enable the long-term and sustained recovery of biodiversity and resilient nature and contribute to achieving the European Union’s climate mitigation and adaptation objectives.
The EU Nature Restoration Law includes specific restoration targets for specific habitats and species. Some of these targets include restoring species populations by improving and enlarging their habitats, reversing the decline of pollinator populations by 2030, and increasing the total area covered by green urban space by 2040 and 2050. Other targets include restoring marine habitats such as seagrass beds and sediment bottoms.
The EU Nature Restoration Law sets a general target for the European Union to restore at least 20% of its land and sea areas by 2030. Priority will be given to Nature 2000 areas, which are networks of protected areas covering Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats on land and in the sea. As part of this new law, member states must restore all ecosystems by 60% in 2040 and 90% by 2050.
The EU Nature Restoration Law also sets specific targets, such as peatlands, that can soak up carbon dioxide emissions and help in their goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This law will also help to increase biodiversity and secure natural processes like cleaning our water and air, pollinating crops, and protecting us from floods.
Member states must submit national restoration plans with clear goals for implementing restoration two years after the law is enforced. They will also be required to monitor and report on their progress.
This new law sets the stage for the critical need to protect biodiversity and the environment. It is not about protecting nature just for the sake of it but to help preserve our planet for generations to come. Protecting biodiversity will have benefits for human health and well-being.
The EU Nature Restoration Law is one step towards reaching these goals. If it proves successful, it may become a law that more countries worldwide will seek to implement.
