We mark today the first big milestone of biodiversity legislation since the adoption of the Habitats Directive three decades ago. The EU Nature Restoration law complements the Birds and Habitats Directives with time-bound targets and will require restoration action across the territory of the EU Member States, including areas outside Natura 2000.

The Conservation Landowners Coalition (CLC) – an initiative of ELO and Eurosite -welcomes the needed ambition of the draft law published today by the European Commission. We value the proposed efforts, in particular for areas with highest potential to remove and store carbon and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters.

After 30 years of collaboration, landowners, natural site managers and farmers have become privileged partners in the implementation of Natura 2000. A continued recognition of this joint commitment will be key for a successful implementation of this new law. We welcome the requirement for Member States, as part of their national restoration plans, to ensure public participation and to consider how landowners and site managers will be affected by the restoration measures.

To maximise the landowners’ engagement, transparent, fair, and voluntary private land conservation tools will be crucial. Unfortunately, the current proposal does not yet discuss the potential of voluntary Private Land Conservation tools and compensation mechanisms for voluntary contributions. We would welcome the addition of such tools and financial incentives for their implementation.

The CLC warmly salutes the recognition of other area-based effective conservation measures (OECMs) and private land conservation measures in the draft law. We are ready to fully support the European Commission and Member States with the further implementation of voluntary conservation tools as the “Homebase for Private Land Conservation in Europe”

Please find the full Nature Restoration Law proposal here.