Luxemburg, Environment ministers of the European Union member states on Monday approved a contested conservation law that seeks to restore habitats to their natural condition.
The Nature Restoration Law aims to regrow forests, re-wet moors and return rivers to their natural, free-flowing states.
The ministers backed the policy at a meeting in Luxembourg, meaning it can now pass into law.
EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius welcomed the decision, saying on X, “We are still on track to reverse the biodiversity loss, let’s now start work together and show that EU is still leading the way.” The law sets a target for the EU to restore at least 20% of the EUs land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.
It aims to reverse the decline of Europe’s natural habitats, of which 81% are determined to be in poor health.
The legislation also sets specific targets such as peatlands that can soak up CO2 emissions and help curb climate change. Other ecosystems explicitly covered by the law include forests, grasslands, and wetlands, as well as rivers, lakes, and coral beds.
Source: Qatar News Agency