On 27 February, the European Parliament will vote on the text of the Nature Restoration Law which was agreed in trilogue by the European Parliament and the Council negotiating teams last year. After the European Parliament vote, the Council will also approve the text.

The 2023 agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the Nature Restoration Law is a positive step towards restoring and reestablishing essential habitats in critical condition.

The legal measures that were considered burdensome were removed during the lengthy negotiation process. The text is now a bare minimum to allow nature restoration. Failure to adopt the regulation at this stage would be a serious setback.

Going forward, successful implementation will depend on strong political backing and support for all rural stakeholders. This includes farmers, land managers, foresters, anglers, and hunters, whose collective action can translate Brussels’ policies into successful on-the-ground initiatives.

Through the Biodiversity Manifesto, FACE has gathered hundreds of small-scale restoration projects managed by local hunters in Europe. It is crucial to acknowledge the significant progress already achieved through this dedicated work of hunters across the EU. The Nature Restoration Law provides a unique opportunity to scale up these actions with national level planning and dedicated resources.