After intense negotiations, the ENVI Council finally approved the Nature Restoration Law on 17 June 2024. The law aims to implement measures to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.
Key objectives include:
- Rewetting 858,000 hectares of peatlands by 2050.
- Restoring 25,000 km of rivers to free-flowing states by 2030.
Despite initial opposition, the law gained wide support from Member States, NGOs, and the public, with a poll showing 75% of EU citizens in favor. The law, which follows its approval by the European Parliament in February 2024, will soon be in effect across all Member States, directly impacting local and national restoration projects.
