Brussels – Today, 1 September, is the deadline for European Union countries to submit draft versions of their National Restoration Plans under the Nature Restoration Law. The #RestoreNature coalition, which includes environmental organisations such as WWF, BirdLife International, the European Environmental Bureau and ClientEarth, announced this in a press release. It calls on governments to go beyond mere bureaucratic compliance and submit credible plans grounded in sound scientific evidence that can be translated into concrete actions on the ground.
According to the statement, as fires, droughts, heatwaves and other climate-related disasters intensify across Europe, the restoration of nature is more urgent than ever. The coalition considers restoring healthy ecosystems essential to strengthen Europe’s resilience, protecting people and reducing the impact of climate-related disasters, while also generating benefits for local communities and economies. With over 80 per cent of European habitats in poor condition, the coalition also emphasises that restoring ecosystems is necessary to halt biodiversity loss, which is also essential for food production.
The press release describes the National Restoration Plans as the key instrument for translating the Nature Restoration Law into concrete action. In the text, the #RestoreNature coalition states: “National Restoration Plans must turn the Nature Restoration Law into action on the ground. Europe doesn’t need more box-ticking. Governments must deliver strong and properly resourced plans that scale up the restoration to increase Europe’s resilience.”
The plans, the statement goes on to say, must be inclusive, science-based and politically supported, setting out where restoration will happen, what measures will be taken, who is responsible, and how it will be financed. The coalition said it will carefully examine the drafts submitted by Member States, working alongside national NGO coalitions and other stakeholders to identify the most effective practices and highlight areas where the plans need strengthening before the final version is published.
According to the press release, the European Commission will also play a crucial role, as it is tasked with ensuring that the plans are credible, coherent and aligned with the objectives of the Nature Restoration Law. At the same time, Member States will need to clearly set out their funding requirements and sources, while the European Union’s next multiannual budget must, in turn, ensure adequate support for nature restoration.
Article written with the assistance of AI.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
