EU Draft Nature Restoration Law: Halving pesticide use, dismantling dams: EU’s ambitious draft law to restore nature

What is the News?

The European Commission(EC) has unveiled a draft “Nature Restoration Law” to restore nature and mitigate climate change on the European continent.

What is the EU Draft Nature Restoration Law?

Aim: To cover at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 with nature restoration measures, and eventually extend these to all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.

Targets under the law

– To halve the pesticide use across Europe by 2030.

– Reverse the decline of pollinator populations by 2030 and increase their populations from there on.

– No net loss of green urban spaces by 2030.

– Removing river barriers so that at least 25 000 km of rivers would be turned into free-flowing rivers by 2030.

– Restoration and rewetting of drained peatlands under agricultural use and in peat extraction sites.

How will this Nature Restoration Law be implemented?

EU countries and the European Parliament will need to approve the draft legislation before it becomes law. 

The members of the European Union are then expected to submit national-level plans for restoration to the Commission within two years.

Around €100 billion ($105 billion) will be available for biodiversity spending, including restoration. Thereafter, they are expected to monitor and submit progress reports against the targets.

Source: The post is based on the article “Halving pesticide use, dismantling dams: EU’s ambitious draft law to restore nature” published in Down To Earth on 25th June 2022.