As rapporteur, MEP César Luena (S&D, Spanish) welcomes but wants to strengthen the proposed EU regulation setting binding targets to restore at least 20% of terrestrial and marine ecosystems by 2030 and all those in need of restoration by 2050 (see EUROPE 13088/1).
His draft report, to be presented to the European Parliament’s Environment Committee on Thursday 12 January, calls for at least 30% of the EU’s land and sea to be restored by 2030, as called for by the European Parliament in June 2021 in an own-initiative resolution (see EUROPE 12737/5).
In the case of terrestrial, coastal and freshwater and marine ecosystems, the proposed 90% target is the minimum required to achieve good status for these ecosystems, but this does not mean that the EU should not aim for 100% by 2050, according to Mr Luena.
For urban systems, given that most European cities already have tree cover of more than 10%, the rapporteur believes it possible to be more ambitious.
Derogations. The rapporteur wishes to limit the derogations, especially for Natura 2000 areas, by keeping to the provisions of the Habitats Directive. The draft report also limits the possibility of derogation to a maximum of 5% of the areas covered by the restoration objectives of Article 4 (terrestrial, coastal and freshwater ecosystems) and Article 5 (marine ecosystems) in order to prevent Member States from continually invoking projects of overriding public interest as a reason for not complying with the future regulation.
It proposes new indicators to measure biodiversity in agricultural and forest ecosystems, including achieving 10% of high diversity landscape features by 2030, and achieving the percentage of species and habitats listed in the annexes of the Habitats Directive for agricultural ecosystems. For forest ecosystems, it suggests adding the indicator of native tree species composition.
The draft report includes the target of planting 3 billion trees contained in the EU biodiversity strategy.
It reinforces the principle of non-deterioration by creating an article on the continuity of the effects of restoration measures through the designation of protected areas, the implementation of effective area-based conservation measures and the promotion of private land conservation measures.
Financing. The rapporteur proposes that an article should highlight the future need for a permanent EU financial instrument dedicated to restoration.
Timetable. César Luena proposes to shorten the deadlines for the submission of national nature restoration plans, their revision and the first reports to be presented.
Other desiderata include: - delegated acts (not implementing acts) for the establishment of a method for monitoring pollinator populations or the framework for setting satisfactory levels; - strengthening public information and participation.
The draft report: https://aeur.eu/f/4uk (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)