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DRAFT OPINION (COM(2022)0304 – C90208/2022 – 2022/0195(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on nature restoration

AGRI-PA-740652

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Anne Sander

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The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development gives its draft opinion on the Commission proposal for a regulation on nature restoration. It asks the environment committee to take account of amendments that add food security, farm viability and funding concerns to the text. The amendments would tie restoration to favourable conditions under the Habitats and Birds Directives, add food security to the Union's objectives, and require an assessment of habitat types and Natura 2000 areas before measures are put in place. They would lower several area and rewetting targets, delay deadlines, and delete the indicators for agricultural and forest ecosystems and the related Commission powers. They would require Member States to consult farmers and foresters, to assess the impact of plans on agricultural and forestry production, and to provide compensation for yield losses. They would add a new chapter on funding, asking the Commission to identify available funding and assess the funds needed, and to report on the impact of the regulation on agriculture and forestry.

Committee position. The committee proposes to amend the Commission proposal to add food security, farm viability and funding safeguards, to lower several restoration targets and deadlines, and to delete the agricultural and forest ecosystem indicators and related Commission powers.

Key points

  1. The opinion asks the environment committee to take account of amendments that prevent overlaps with the Common Agricultural Policy and the proposed carbon certification regulation.
  2. It adds food security to the regulation's overarching objectives and requires restoration measures to balance protection and sustainable use of ecosystems.
  3. It defines restoration and good condition so that economic activities, including agriculture and forestry, are not excluded, and requires account to be taken of climate change.
  4. It requires an assessment of habitat types and Natura 2000 areas under a harmonised methodology before restoration measures are put in place, and lowers the area targets to 50% by 2040 and 90% by 2050.
  5. It adds food security and food supply disruptions to the exceptions from the no-deterioration obligation and requires Member States to take account of climate change.
  6. It requires a local impact study involving local authorities and stakeholders before removing river barriers, and drops the 25 000 km free-flowing rivers objective.
  7. It delays the halt of pollinator decline to 2035 and requires measures to take account of their impact on agricultural production and climate change.
  8. It deletes the agricultural ecosystem indicators and the obligation to set satisfactory levels, and lowers the peatland restoration targets to 15% by 2030, 25% by 2040 and 35% by 2050.
  9. It replaces the forest ecosystem indicators with criteria from the State of Europe's Forests 2020 and allows sustainable management plans as an alternative.
  10. It requires Member States to inform and consult farmers and foresters, and to give them early and effective opportunities to participate in preparing national restoration plans.
  11. It requires national restoration plans to include compensation for yield losses, an explanation of how agricultural and forestry production is maintained, and an impact assessment on European agricultural and forestry production.
  12. It adds a new chapter on funding, asking the Commission to identify available funding and assess the funds needed, and requires a report on the impact of the regulation on agriculture and forestry.

Who is affected

  • Farmers and foresters: must be consulted on restoration plans and can receive compensation for yield losses.
  • Member States: must carry out assessments, prepare national restoration plans and report data to the Commission.
  • The Commission: must identify funding, analyse national plans and report on the regulation's impact.
  • Agricultural and forestry production: plans must avoid moving production outside the European Union.

Figures and deadlines

  • At least 20% of the Union's land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.
  • Restoration measures on at least 50% by 2040 and at least 90% by 2050.
  • Re-establishment on at least 50% of the additional surface by 2040 and 90% by 2050.
  • Farmland bird index: 110 by 2035, 120 by 2045 and 130 by 2055 for more depleted Member States.
  • Farmland bird index: 105 by 2035, 110 by 2045 and 115 by 2055 for less depleted Member States.
  • Peatland restoration: 15% by 2030, 25% by 2040 and 35% by 2050.
  • Draft national restoration plans to be submitted within 36 months after entry into force.
  • Natura 2000 covered almost 18% of land and 9.7% of marine waters in 2019.