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Nature restoration

TA-9-2024-0089 · P9_TA(2024)0089 · PE737.282

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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.

Parliament's position at first reading on a proposed regulation on nature restoration. It sets binding restoration targets for land, sea, urban, freshwater, agricultural and forest ecosystems, and requires national restoration plans. Member States must restore at least 20% of land areas and 20% of sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. The regulation also requires restoring at least 25 000 km of rivers into free-flowing rivers by 2030 and planting at least three billion additional trees by 2030. It requires national restoration plans, monitoring and reporting, and amends Regulation (EU) 2022/869.

Key points

  1. Member States must restore at least 30% of Annex I habitat areas not in good condition by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050.
  2. Member States must re-establish Annex I habitat types to reach favourable reference areas: 30% of the additional surface by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 100% by 2050.
  3. Member States must restore marine habitat types in Annex II groups 1 to 6: 30% by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050.
  4. Member States must ensure no net loss of urban green space and urban tree canopy cover by 31 December 2030, and increasing trends thereafter.
  5. Member States must inventory artificial barriers to surface water connectivity and remove those needed to restore at least 25 000 km of free-flowing rivers by 2030.
  6. Member States must reverse pollinator decline by 2030 and achieve increasing pollinator populations thereafter.
  7. Member States must enhance biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems, achieve increasing trends in at least two of three indicators, and restore drained peatlands: 30% by 2030, 40% by 2040 and 50% by 2050.
  8. Member States must enhance forest biodiversity, achieve increasing trends in the common forest bird index and at least six of seven forest indicators.
  9. Member States must contribute to planting at least three billion additional trees by 2030, respecting ecological principles.
  10. Member States must prepare national restoration plans, submit drafts by 24 months after entry into force, and finalise them within six months of Commission observations.
  11. Member States must monitor and report on restoration progress, with first reports by 30 June 2028 and every three years thereafter.
  12. The Commission may temporarily suspend Article 11 for up to 12 months in case of an unforeseeable event threatening Union food supply.

Who is affected

  • Member States, which must put in place restoration measures, prepare national plans and report progress.
  • Farmers and private landowners, for whom rewetting peatland on agricultural land remains voluntary.
  • The Commission, which assesses plans, adopts delegated and implementing acts, and reports on funding gaps.
  • The European Environment Agency, which supports monitoring and provides progress reports.

Figures and deadlines

  • At least 20% of land areas and 20% of sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.
  • At least 30% by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050 of Annex I habitat areas not in good condition.
  • At least 30% by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 100% by 2050 of additional surface needed for favourable reference areas.
  • At least 25 000 km of rivers restored into free-flowing rivers by 2030.
  • At least three billion additional trees planted by 2030.
  • Drained peatlands under agricultural use: 30% by 2030, 40% by 2040 and 50% by 2050.
  • Common farmland bird index targets: 110 by 2030, 120 by 2040 and 130 by 2050 for more depleted Member States.
  • Temporary suspension of Article 11 for a maximum of 12 months.

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