Nature restoration: taking better care of habitats in the EU | Topics

In February 2024, MEPs backed a new law, which is part of the EU’s efforts to preserve biodiversity in Europe. This law binds all EU countries to work towards restoring natural habitats.

Read more on the causes of biodiversity loss

Why must we restore nature?

Much of our biodiversity has deteriorated over the years and in order to reverse this trend MEPs agree that the EU needs to go the extra mile. More than 80% of European habitats are in poor shape at the moment and this new law aims to directly tackle this issue.

Nature is a crucial source of nutritious food, oxygen and natural resources. Even though we depend on these things to survive, we are not sustaining them. An alarming report from the European Environment Agency in 2020 points out that pollution and climate change may destroy nature and lead to the extinction of species. The new legislation aims to cultivate a greener future by introducing specific changes.

Read more on endangered species in Europe

What changes will be made?

The new law will ensure that every EU country takes action. All countries will be required to submit and implement a national restoration plan that addresses their most pressing issues.

On a national basis, each EU country will work towards:

• Removing non-native plants on grasslands, wetlands and forests
• Rewetting drained peatlands
• Improving connectivity between habitats
• Reducing and/or stopping the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers
• Promoting the preservation of wilderness

The EU aims to improve the state of all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. For this purpose, the law sets EU-wide goals that include restoring:

• 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030
• At least 30% of land, coastal, marine and freshwater habitats in poor condition by 2030
• 60% of habitats in poor condition by 2040 and 90% by 2050

EU countries will have to make sure that significant deterioration does not occur in any area that is subject to restoration.

The rules aim to improve the biodiversity in agricultural land, populations of grassland butterflies and farmland birds and introduce more green spaces in urban areas. Reversing the decline of pollinator populations would be another priority.