On June 22, 2022, the European Commission presented a proposal for a nature restoration regulation to implement the Green Deal.
This regulation will not only provide a definition of « nature restoration, » but will also enshrine a general goal of nature restoration for all damaged ecosystems by 2050.
To achieve this, the European Commission proposes a series of obligations for the States, with detailed numerical targets in national restoration plans.
It should be emphasized that this is a proposal for a regulation: it enters into force twenty days after its publication, and does not require transposition measures unlike the directives.
A definition of restoration: « ‘restoration’ means the process of actively or passively assisting the recovery of an ecosystem towards or to good condition, of a habitat type to the highest level of condition attainable and to its favourable reference area, of a habitat of a species to a sufficient quality and quantity, or of species populations to satisfactory levels, as a means of conserving or enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
This definition shows an active or passive process, aiming at the relative objective of « good condition » of damaged ecosystems.
An overall goal of restoring nature to all damaged ecosystems by 2050 :
This objective would consist of the obligation for the Member States to restore nature to 30% of the European territory by 2030, and to 50% by 2050.
A series of quantified obligations incumbent on the Member States :
-the obligation to restore the good state of terrestrial ecosystems to 30% of their surface by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050
-the same objectives apply to the restoration of marine ecosystems
-Requirement to ensure no net loss of urban green space by 2030, and a 5% increase by 2050
-Requirement to restore 25,000 km of rivers by 2030
-Requirement to halt the decline of pollinator populations by 2030
-A requirement to restore agricultural and forest ecosystems
A requirement to develop national plans
These national plans must be developed with the involvement of the public, and be filed within two years of the regulation coming into force.
Image : les-masure.fr
