Parliament adopts law to restore 20% of EU’s land and sea by 2030

A shocking figure: based on the European Environmental Agency (EEA) Report No 10/2020, over 80% of European habitats are in poor shape. To contribute to the long-term recovery of damaged nature across the EU’s land and sea areas, a new EU law sets a target to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.

To reach the overall EU targets, Member States must restore at least 30% of habitats covered by the new law (from forests, grasslands and wetlands to rivers, lakes and coral beds) from poor to good condition by 2030, increasing to 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050. In line with Parliament’s position, EU countries should give priority to Natura 2000 areas until 2030. Once in good condition, EU countries shall ensure an area does not significantly deteriorate. Member States will also have to adopt national restoration plans detailing how they intend to achieve these targets.

As restoring drained peatlands is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce emissions in the agricultural sector, EU countries must restore at least 30% of drained peatlands by 2030 (at least a quarter shall be rewetted), 40% by 2040 and 50% by 2050 (where at least one-third shall be rewetted). Rewetting will remain voluntary for farmers and private landowners.

The law provides for an emergency brake, as requested by Parliament, so targets for agricultural ecosystems can be suspended under exceptional circumstances if they severely reduce the land needed for sufficient food production for EU consumption. The law also demands a positive trend in several indicators in forest ecosystems and an additional three billion trees to be planted. Member States will also have to restore at least 25,000 km of rivers into free-flowing rivers and ensure there is no net loss in the total national area of urban green space and of urban tree canopy cover.

The new law also has to be adopted by Council, before being published in the EU Official Journal and entering into force 20 days later.