European Union member states have reached a landmark political agreement on the Nature Restoration Law, committing to legally binding targets to restore at least 30% of the bloc's degraded land and marine ecosystems by 2040, rising to 90% by 2050.

What the Law Requires

Under the agreement, EU countries must draw up national restoration plans within two years and begin demonstrating measurable improvements in biodiversity indicators — including populations of pollinators, forest birds, grassland butterflies, and fish stocks in rivers and coastal waters — within five years.

The law also requires rewetting 30% of drained peatlands by 2030, the removal of at least 25,000 kilometres of barriers from rivers to restore free-flowing waterways, and the planting of three billion additional trees across member states.

Reactions

Environmental groups called the agreement "a turning point for European nature." The WWF said it represented "the most significant piece of nature legislation in a generation." However, farming lobbies remain critical, arguing that restoration mandates on agricultural land will reduce food production capacity and harm rural livelihoods.

The European Commission estimates the law will generate €8-38 in economic benefits for every €1 invested, primarily through improved water quality, flood protection, and agricultural resilience to climate extremes.