Powerful vested interests are threatening the adoption of the proposed European Union Nature Restoration Law. The law would require restoration measures to be in place on 20% of Europe’s land and sea area by 2030, and aims to make the continent’s rivers, agriculture, forests and cities more biodiverse and resilient. The European Commission calculates that between 8 (US$9) and 38 will be returned in ecosystem services for every euro invested in restoration.
Voting to pass the law takes place this month in the European Parliament. Opponents are influenced by lobbyists in favour of intensive agriculture, fisheries and the forestry industry, who say that the law would cut jobs and undermine food and energy security (see, for example, go.nature.com/3nhboyr; go.nature.com/44bfn8o; go.nature.com/3reitid). The political debate mostly disregards the law’s importance for mitigating and adapting to climate change.
Time is short. The scientific community must fend off opposition by publicly debunking misinformation from lobbyists. The EU cannot reconcile a failure to approve the law with its calls for developing countries to stop clearing their pristine lands.
Source: Ecology - nature.com
