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The Nature Restoration Law: the European challenge to restore ecosystems

The Nature Restoration Law: the European challenge to restore ecosystems

Rebirth with nature: the restoration of biodiversity in Italy

With Nature Restoration Law, nature conservation becomes a concrete commitment

Why a law to revive ecosystems?

In recent decades, many ecosystems have lost their ecological functionality. They have stopped performing those vital functions that made them fertile and alive, and can no longer accommodate the species that used to inhabit them.

It is from this reality that the Nature Restoration Law was born: the first European law to impose concrete goals to restore compromised ecosystems to health.

It is not only an ecological challenge. It is a collective, social, economic challenge. And it affects all of us.

A maple forest ablaze with autumn. the trunks of the trees stand out dark against the deep red leavesSimone Dalmeri – Unsplash
Mountain panorama of Sass Pordoj, which is part of the Sella mountain range in the Dolomites. It is called ‘the terrace of the Dolomites’ because of its flat shape and attracts many hikersMarkus Spiske – Unsplash
Trail in the heart of the Sasseto Forest (VT), where light filters through the foliage creating shadow play on the carpet of mossMassimo Santi – iStock – Standard license

From restoration to cure: commitments for 2030 and beyond

The Nature Restoration Law is the first European law that not only protects nature, but asks us to restore it.
It wants every member state to commit, in concrete and measurable ways, to restoring forests, rivers, seabeds and wetlands to health, and to increasing urban biodiversity: environments that sustain life in quiet but essential ways.
By 2030 at least 20 percent of compromised habitats must be restored, with more ambitious targets set for 2050.

Young leaf reaching out into the light, crossed by the sun’s rays revealing its delicate texturemax fuchs – Unsplash

Do you want to know how to restore nature?

The National Biodiversity Future Center’s report tells how ecological restoration is taking shape in Italy and documents the state of play, including challenges already met and goals yet to be achieved.
It contains data, methods and concrete projects that show how scientific research can translate into actions capable of regenerating ecosystems and improving life for all.

download restoration report

Broom flowers in full bloom stand out against a cloud-laden sky. A typical species of Mediterranean environments, it is known for its resilience and intense fragrance that characterizes summer days.Simone Bomprezzi – iStock – Licenza standard

Nature Restoration Law in a nutshell

Short content to understand what the law provides and how we put it into practice

From law to action: the role of the National Biodiversity Future Center

From research to people, from data to territory: this is how work to revive ecosystems takes shape

Study ecosystems to understand how to treat them

To restore an ecosystem, one must first know it thoroughly.
NBFC collects data, maps habitats, analyzes biodiversity, and monitors the impacts of ecological degradation. It uses ecological mapping, indicators of functionality and predictive models to design effective, targeted and measurable interventions.

Builds methods that can be replicated

Each intervention is also an experiment. NBFC evaluates the effectiveness of actions, measures their costs, collects evidence and sets standards.
It uses international tools such as the Society for Ecological Restoration’s five-star rating system to ensure quality over time.
The goal is to turn each project into a useful, adaptable and shareable method.

Experiments with solutions on the ground and in real-world settings

NBFC coordinates interventions in more than 15 pilot areas distributed throughout Italy, covering 7 different habitats: wetlands, seabeds, rivers, forests, and urban settings.
Each project is an opportunity to test solutions in the field: floating islands for phytodepuration, technologies for acoustic monitoring, digital tools for data collection, and more.

Involves those who live in and protect the territories

NBFC works in networks with local authorities, Protected Areas and Marine Areas, schools, associations, citizens.It promotes workshops, citizen science activities, participatory pathways, events and digital tools.
Because ecological restoration is a scientific process, but also a collective one: listening, confrontation and collaboration are part of the work.

Restoring biodiversity is a shared commitment

The National Biodiversity Future Center’s contribution stems from an open and collaborative approach.Scientific research, technologies, public agencies, territories and communities-each element is part of a system that can only work if it holds skills and people together.Restoring biodiversity is not an isolated gesture, but a process that requires method, perseverance and trust.
This is how lasting change is built.

See the full text of the Nature Restoration Law.

Edelweiss, a symbol of the Alps, emerging among the bright green and violet flowersfotolinchen – iStock – Standard license

Here’s how ecological restoration translates into concrete, visible and shared action

Each project tells a part of this challenge: different environments, tailored solutions, virtuous examples that become replicable methods

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