Shortly before the European elections, the parliamentarians adopted the renaturation law on February 27 with 329 votes in favour and 275 against. This was preceded by years of intensive wrangling between the EU Parliament and member states over key issues such as the percentage of areas to be restored and the timeframe for implementation.

Specifically, the law requires member states to restore at least 30% of degraded habitats (forests, grasslands, wetlands, rivers, lakes) to good status by the end of 2030, rising to 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050. In relation to an area of a habitat type, "good status" means the characteristic in which the essential features of the habitat type, in particular structure and functions as well as characteristic species or species composition, exhibit a high degree of ecological integrity, stability and resilience. The EU member states should give priority to "Natura 2000 sites".

In particular, Article 8 on safeguarding and enhancing urban ecosystems also has considerable potential for the profession. It stipulates that the member states should ensure that there is no net loss of green spaces and tree canopies by the end of 2030 and that there is a verifiable increase in urban green spaces from 2030.

DNR Managing Director Florian Schöne sums up the result now available: "The EU Member States are now called upon to start implementation promptly and to draw up ambitious restoration plans. At the same time, we believe that the EU has a responsibility to set up an adequate funding framework to implement the regulation. Without financial incentives, it will be difficult to make real progress in restoring our ecosystems together with land users."

The law that has now been passed is the first of its kind in the world to commit an entire community of states not only to preserving nature, but also to restoring ecosystems that have already been destroyed or damaged to a good state. The renaturation law must be finally adopted by the European Council.

• The text of the law can be viewed here.

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