For the first time in 30 years, legislation has been put forward to address catastrophic wildlife loss in the EU. Legally binding targets for all member states to restore wildlife on land, rivers and the sea were announced today, alongside a crackdown on chemical pesticides.
Frans Timmermans, executive vice-president of the commission, said the laws were a step forward in tackling the “looming ecocide” threatening the planet. Around €100bn will be available for spending on biodiversity, including the restoration of ecosystems. The target of 2030 to cut the use of pesticides will give farmers time to find alternatives.
The proposals, which campaigners have hailed as a potential milestone for nature, could become law in around a year. The restoration proposal is the first biodiversity legislation since the release of theMember states would have to create restoration plans to show the commission how they would reach the targets set, and if they fail to follow through they would face legal action.
“We will need to go through the text with a fine-tooth comb, because several loopholes have been snuck in at the last minute,” he said, adding that there had been strong disagreement within the commission over the details of the report, with several delays as a result of objections from the farming and forestry lobbies.