This may have escaped your attention. Almost 6 months after this announcement, PlantC revisits the entry into force of the European Nature Restoration Regulation on August 18, 2024.
This is a Regulation, which, unlike a Directive, is directly applicable in all Member States.
The objective of this new law: for each Member State to implement effective restoration measures on a minimum of 20% of the European Union’s land and sea areas by 2030 (thus, 5 years) and 90% by 2050.
In 25 years, all ecosystems degraded that restoration measures will be implemented.
And everyone is concerned: all sectors and all types of land! Do not think that this regulation applies only to defined geographical areas, such as Natura 2000 protected areas.
The main environments and organisms targeted
The regulation applies:
To degraded habitats terrestrial and marine: in Wallonia, 96% of habitats of community interest are in status of conservation unfavourable. Suffice to say that we are extremely concerned by this Regulation.
To restore the populations of pollinators, which are essential for food and raw material production.
To agricultural ecosystems and forest ecosystems: to increase the populations of butterflies and birds of farmland.
Measures will be required to increase the presence of hedges, wetlands, fruit trees, and flower-rich areas. This involves restoring 50% of drained peatlands used in agriculture by 2050. Finally, it means storing more carbon in soils. Forests, true carbon sinks, are essential in mitigating climate change. It also involves improving the forest biodiversity index by, among other things, requiring a certain amount of deadwood, and restoring populations of forest birds.
To rivers and floodplains: the regulation mentions the removal of existing obstacles in EU watercourses, in order to restore the continuity of river networks.
But also to urban areas: the Regulation results in an increase in green spaces in urban areas, with the objective of zero net loss of green space by 2030 and an increase in tree cover.
WHILE AWAITING THE REGIONAL PLAN, PlantC acts
By 2026, a regional plan must be developed to directly implement the Nature Restoration Law. This plan will define restoration measures, specify the total area to be restored, and set a timeline. While Walloon policy organizes the budget allocated to biodiversity, for PlantC, as a company, the message is clear and confirms the relevance of our impact projects. PlantC is actively committed to achieving European objectives of environmental preservation and works daily towards ecosystem restoration:
Support for farmers and foresters
We support them in the implementation of projects for flora and fauna, ecological networks, landscape diversification, and wetland restoration.
Complementary financial support mechanism
We offer additional financial support to existing public schemes, by mobilizing a community of private and citizen contributors.
Alternative management of green spaces
We support companies in the sustainable management of their green spaces. For example, in industrial or economic zones, to promote biodiversity in unexpected places.
Access to public support:
We ensure that project leaders fully benefit from available public aid, by maintaining up-to-date knowledge of the schemes implemented by public administrations.
Responding to calls for tenders:
We actively respond to calls for tenders for Nature restoration in urbanized areas.
Thus, we align ourselves with regional and national plans that translate European legislation while meeting the needs of companies facing legal obligations (ESG Strategy, CSRD, etc.).
