In June 2022, the European Commission launched a proposal for the Nature Restoration Law. European Landscape Contractors Association (ELCA) has been involved in the legislative process and continues to make proposals.
In June 2022, the European Commission launched a proposal for the Nature Restoration Law. This law, which is one of the pillars of the EU Green Deal, focuses on the protection and enhancement of biodiversity in all kinds of ecosystems, including in urban areas. The Commission proposed a no net loss of Green urban spaces by 2030 and a growth of Green urban spaces with 5% and tree canopy with 10% by 2050.
ELCA welcomes this Nature Restoration Law and the legally binding targets for urban areas. The era in which Greenery was considered merely as decoration, has now passed. The law is an acknowledgement of the key values of Greenery and Nature-Based solutions for a better climate, biodiversity and public health.
Unfortunately the proposal met a lot of opposition. The Council of the European Union replaced the concrete targets for Greening urban areas with a general definition: ‘a raising trend in Urban Greening till a satisfactory level is reached’. Voting on this law in the European Parliament was a close call, however, the law was adopted by Parliament with this general definition for Greening urban areas.
The Nature Restoration Law is now in trialogue. ELCA will continue to be involved in the legislative process, and put forward suggestions for: clear targets, a plan for the successful implementation of the law on local levels, and for the close monitoring of the results.
The European Union is united in the decision that biodiversity needs to be legislated – the time has come that there can be no further loss of nature as a result of human actions. – Henrik Bos, President, European Landscape Contractors Association
Read more about the highlights of the European Platform for Urban Greening here.
Photo: Lutze von Wurmb
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