European Union Environment Ministers have approved a much-fought-over conservation law intended to restore habitats to their natural condition, in a vote that was live-streamed publicly.
The purpose of the Nature Restoration Law is to regrow forests, re-wet moors and return rivers to their natural, free-flowing states. Ministers for 20 EU member states voted in favour, representing 66 per cent of the population. The conservation law sets a target for the EU to restore at least 20 per cent of the bloc’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.
According to EU figures, around 80 per cent of habitats are in poor condition. In addition,10 per cent of bee and butterfly species are threatened with extinction and 70 per cent of soils are in an unhealthy state.