EU parliament backs biodiversity bill in a close vote

Subject :Environment

Section: International conventions

Context:

The European Parliament on July 12, narrowly backed a key biodiversity bill aimed at rewilding EU land and water habitats, overcoming a backlash by conservative lawmakers who said it would hurt farmers.

About the ‘Nature Restoration Act’:

The Nature Restoration Act, initiated by the European Commission, aims to resuscitate degraded ecosystems by boosting forested areas, marine habitats and increasing connectivity between rivers.
The nature restoration law will place recovery measures on 20% of the EU’s land and sea by 2030, rising to cover all degraded ecosystems by 2050.
It notably seeks to grow populations of bees, birds and butterflies — especially on farmland, which would also be encouraged to bring back marsh– and peatlands previously drained.
Why is the law needed?
- Europe’s nature is in bad health. More than 60% of its soils are unhealthy and 81% of habitats are in poor condition.
- A recent study found the abundance of farmland birds has halved in the past 40 years.

Controversy over the bill:

According to the conservative European People’s Party (EPP), it would reduce EU food security, punish producers reeling from the pandemic and energy crisis and limit possibilities to build wind and hydroelectric energy facilities.
- Less land for farmers, less sea for fishermen, less activity for businesses, and fewer European products and jobs for our citizens
A non-governmental organisation lobbying for maritime environmental protections, Seas At Risk, also criticised the bill.

Seas at Risk:

Seas At Risk is an association of environmental organisations from across Europe, working together to ensure that life in our seas and oceans is abundant, diverse, climate resilient, and not threatened by human activities.
Its mission is to promote ambitious policies for marine protection at European and international level.
With over 30 members representing the majority of European countries, Seas At Risk speaks for millions of citizens that care deeply about the health and well-being of seas and oceans.
Headquartered in Brussels.