EU agrees nature restoration law targeting 20% of land, sea

EU Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional agreement on the Nature Restoration Law, setting a target to restore at least 20% of the EU's land and sea by 2030 and all ecosystems needing restoration by 2050. Indian exporters and companies in EU value chains should anticipate downstream biodiversity and land-use expectations as the bloc tightens its ecological framework.

Negotiators agreed a provisional political deal on the EU Nature Restoration Law, first proposed by the Commission on 22 June 2022. It sets targets to restore at least 20% of EU land and sea by 2030 and all ecosystems requiring restoration by 2050, with over 80% of European habitats currently in poor shape. Member states must restore at least 30% of covered habitat types to good condition by 2030, rising to 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050. The Commission estimates every euro invested yields at least eight euros in benefits over time.

The law primarily affects EU member states, the agricultural sector, forestry, and urban planning authorities. Farmers must achieve positive trends in indicators such as the grassland butterfly index and organic carbon in cropland soil. Drained peatlands on agricultural land must be restored on at least 30% of such areas by 2030, though rewetting remains voluntary for farmers. Forest ecosystems require three billion additional trees planted, and at least 25,000 km of rivers must be restored to free-flowing condition.

Member states must adopt national restoration plans through open, transparent and inclusive processes, prioritising Natura 2000 sites until 2030. Within 12 months of entry into force, the Commission must assess any gap between restoration financing needs and available EU funding. An emergency brake allows suspension of agricultural targets under exceptional circumstances affecting food production. The deal still requires formal adoption by Parliament and Council before publication in the EU Official Journal and entry into force 20 days later.

Key figure — Restoration target: at least 20% of EU land and sea areas by 2030