A briefing note published on Tuesday 9 May by the European Environment Agency (EEA) highlights the poor state of nature in Europe and the importance to society of restoring damaged ecosystems.
This note is made public at a time when the proposed EU nature restoration law (see EUROPE 13171/6, 13098/3) and the targets for halving pesticide use, imposed by the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, are being challenged, notably by the EPP group in the European Parliament, for the sake of European agriculture and food security (see EUROPE 13176/7).
The EEA recalls that, according to its latest, ‘State of nature in the EU 2020’ assessment, 81% of protected habitats, 39% of protected birds and 63% of other protected species are in a poor or bad state, and that intensive agriculture, land take, pollution, unsustainable forestry and climate change are among the many cumulative factors contributing to pressures on nature in Europe.
Restoring damaged rivers, lakes, wetlands, forests, grasslands, marine habitats and other ecosystems would not only improve the overall resilience and quality of nature in Europe, but would also bring many wider societal benefits, according to the EEA.
It gives the example of the health of habitats for pollinators, such as bees and beetles, which is essential for long-term food security in Europe.
The state of forests and wetlands is vital for climate change mitigation, and healthy ecosystems also offer better protection against extreme weather events and pollution, the note reiterates.
The EEA thus echoes all the elements and arguments that underpin the European Commission’s proposals.
See the EEA note: https://aeur.eu/f/6si (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)