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DRAFT REPORT (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

ENVI-PR-737282

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety · Rapporteur: César Luena

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This is the rapporteur's draft report on the Commission's proposal for a regulation on nature restoration. It amends the proposal to set a Union objective of restoring at least 30% of land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. It raises restoration targets for habitat types to 100% by 2050, adds connectivity obligations, and tightens the derogations Member States may use. It sets higher targets for urban green space and tree canopy cover, rewetting of drained peatlands, and free-flowing rivers, and adds a new article on planting three billion additional trees. It requires Member States to prepare national restoration plans, shortens deadlines for submitting and assessing them, and creates new articles on funding, public participation and information exchange.

Committee position. The rapporteur supports the proposal but proposes to strengthen it, including by raising the overarching restoration objective to 30% by 2030, increasing specific targets, tightening derogations, adding new articles on funding and public participation, and shortening deadlines.

Key points

  1. Parliament's position sets an overarching Union objective to restore at least 30% of land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.
  2. Member States must put restoration measures in place on at least 30% of each group of habitat types not in good condition by 2030, 65% by 2040 and 100% by 2050.
  3. Member States must improve connectivity between existing protected areas and between habitat types, and adopt complementary measures if necessary.
  4. Derogations outside Natura 2000 are limited to force majeure causing natural disasters, scientifically proven climate change impacts with mitigation measures, or projects of overriding public interest with compensatory measures.
  5. Inside Natura 2000, non-fulfilment may only be justified by a plan or project authorised under Article 6(4) of Directive 92/43/EEC, for a maximum of 5% of the areas covered by the targets.
  6. Areas covered by derogations do not count towards the targets, and public funds received for restoration measures must be returned if no restoration took place.
  7. Member States must increase total national urban green space by at least 4% by 2040 and 6% by 2050, and ensure a minimum of 15% urban tree canopy cover by 2050.
  8. Member States must restore 30% of drained peatlands in agricultural use by 2030, 50% by 2040 and 70% by 2050, with at least half, two thirds and two thirds respectively rewetted.
  9. Member States must inventory and remove barriers to longitudinal, lateral, vertical and temporal connectivity of surface waters, prioritising obsolete barriers and those with high ecological impact.
  10. Member States must contribute to planting at least three billion additional trees by 2030, respecting ecological principles, prioritising native species and avoiding non-native species.
  11. Member States must prepare national restoration plans, submit drafts within 18 months of entry into force, and the Commission must assess them within four months.
  12. The Commission must assess the gap between restoration funding needs and available Union funding and evaluate options such as reallocation of funds or a permanent dedicated nature restoration fund.

Who is affected

  • Member States, which must put restoration measures in place, prepare national restoration plans and meet the targets.
  • Farmers, who must restore drained peatlands and increase high-diversity landscape features on agricultural land.
  • The fisheries sector, which is affected by restoration measures in marine and freshwater ecosystems.
  • Urban residents, who benefit from increased urban green space and tree canopy cover.
  • The Commission, which must assess plans, adopt delegated acts and report on progress.

Figures and deadlines

  • At least 30% of the Union's land and sea areas to be covered by restoration measures by 2030.
  • At least 30% of each group of habitat types not in good condition by 2030, 65% by 2040 and 100% by 2050.
  • Maximum of 5% of the areas covered by the targets for derogations inside Natura 2000.
  • At least 4% increase in urban green space by 2040 and 6% by 2050.
  • Minimum of 15% urban tree canopy cover by 2050.
  • 30% of drained peatlands in agricultural use by 2030, 50% by 2040 and 70% by 2050, with at least half, two thirds and two thirds rewetted.
  • At least 25 000 km of rivers restored into free-flowing rivers by 2030.
  • At least three billion additional trees planted by 2030.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.