IFLA Europe, the European Region of the International Federation of Landscape Architects, welcomes European Council’s adoption of Nature Restoration Law. This legislation aims to address the pressing issue of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation across Europe. By setting legally binding targets for the restoration of degraded ecosystems, the law seeks to enhance the resilience of natural habitats, promote biodiversity, and contribute to the mitigation of climate change.

The Nature Restoration Law is a significant step towards achieving the EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030, which includes ambitious goals such as the restoration of 30% of Europe’s degraded ecosystems. It mandates member states to develop and implement restoration plans for a variety of ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, peatlands, and marine environments. The law also emphasises the importance of integrating nature restoration into other sectors, such as agriculture, forestry, and urban planning.

“The Nature Recovery Law is acknowledging the importance of restoration of our natural systems and the need to secure the conservation, development, and management of our landscapes to ensure climate resilience, as an extension of the European Green Deal and the new European Bauhaus Declaration.” stated Katerina Gkoltsiou, IFLA Europe President.

Landscape architects possess the expertise needed to design and manage landscapes that enhance ecological integrity and provide sustainable benefits to society. Their involvement is essential in creating multifunctional landscapes that support biodiversity, improve climate resilience, and enhance the quality of life for European citizens.

The adoption of the Nature Restoration Law marks a pivotal moment in Europe’s efforts to combat environmental degradation and foster a more sustainable and biodiverse future. IFLA Europe’s support underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in achieving the ambitious restoration targets set forth by the legislation.”

What is next? Under the new rules, member states must plan ahead and submit national restoration plans to the Commission, showing how they will deliver on the targets. They must also monitor and report on their progress, based on EU-wide biodiversity indicators. The regulation will now be published in the EU’s Official Journal and enter into force. It will become directly applicable in all member states.nBy 2033, the Commission will review the application of the regulation and its impacts on the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, as well as its wider socio-economic effects.