On 1 September, FACE attended the ENVI Committee hearing in the European Parliament, which included an exchange of views with the European Commission on the Nature Restoration Regulation and the National Restoration Plans that Member States were required to submit by the same date.

While only a few Member States met the 1 September deadline for submitting their plans, at the time of writing a larger number of countries have done so, namely Austria, Bulgaria, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. However, only some of these countries have made their plans publicly accessible.

The exchange between the Commission and MEPs was quite lively, with virtually all MEPs highlighting the lack of funding available for restoration and the continued delay in the Commission’s report on the financial needs associated with implementing the Regulation. In this context of financial uncertainty, it is worth underlining the value that hunters represent, or should represent, in the eyes of national authorities, as they are important partners in nature restoration.

From FACE’s perspective, these plans present an important opportunity to deliver better habitat conditions for a range of small game species in Europe. Considerable work will be required in the years ahead to turn these plans into effective action on the ground. Their success will depend on adequate funding and the meaningful involvement of hunters, farmers, land managers and other local stakeholders in their implementation.