European Union reaches agreement on restoration of natural areas

Preserve and restore nature. This is what an agreement intends to impose on a key legislative project for biodiversity, on which the European Parliament and the Member States of the European Union agreed, Thursday 9 November. If European legislators welcomed the text, several critics still pointed out certain watered-down elements.

Tatiana Nuno, senior manager of marine policy for the environmental association Seas at Risk, notably affirmed that the final result “is far from what is needed to deal with the crisis of biodiversity”. However, she recognized that it is “a crucial step towards restoring precious marine life that shelters [l’océan]”.

Spaces in often “bad or mediocre” condition

The text will force member countries to implement a series of measures intended to result in the restoration of at least 20% of the European Union’s land and maritime areas by 2030, and of all ecosystems requiring restoration. by 2050.

While 80% of natural habitats in the European Union are in a state of conservation “bad or mediocre” according to Brussels, member states will also have to establish measures to restore at least 60% of these spaces by 2040, and at least 90% by 2050.