Last week, the European Union (EU) reached an agreement to pass a contentious law focused on restoring degraded natural ecosystems. The Nature Restoration Law, a crucial element of the European Green Deal, mandates countries to implement measures to restore nature on 20% of the EU's land and sea by 2030 (Reuters). Additionally, governments must introduce targeted measures to increase either grassland butterfly populations, nature friendly features like hedges on farmland, or carbon storage in soil (Reuters). 

Despite opposition, particularly from the European People's Party (EPP), a late-night deal was struck, prompting mixed reactions from environmental campaigners (Guardian). The final text includes amendments, such as removing a requirement for landscape elements on farmland, weakening targets for peatland restoration, and providing farmers with several carveouts (Reuters, Guardian). Doubts persist about the final adoption of the EU's plan, as the EPP emphasized the need to balance nature restoration with agricultural and forestry interests to secure Europe's food security (AP). Some experts, including Ioannis Agapakis, a lawyer at ClientEarth, expressed concern that the legislative changes may render the law toothless and prone to abuse, setting a potentially troubling precedent for EU law making (AP). The law will now undergo review in the European parliament and EU countries for final approval before national action plans are developed for habitat protection (Reuters).