SoGreen Alliance embraces result voting European Parliament on Nature Restoration Law
The SoGreen Alliance, in which eight European associations of urban green professionals cooperate (www.onthegreenmove.com), has followed the voting yesterday in the European Parliament on the Nature Restoration Law with great interest. The Alliance is, looking from the point of view of greening cities, delighted about the fact that the law is adopted. Although the regulations for nature restoration in the urban area have been weakened, the compromise embraces the conviction that greening cities is a basic need in making them climate resilient and a better place to live for humans, plants and animals. It also makes, looking at the European green diversity, the translation to local and regional circumstances. Urban green professionals deliver their professionalism of the application and maintenance of greenery and nature based solutions that answers to societal challenges there. Our plead, that urban green professionals should be involved as early as possible in the policy, planning and design process, grows to reality when the Nature Restoration Law enters into force.
For the first time in 70 years, the European Union adopts regulation for nature restoration. For the urban green professionals, united within the SoGreen Alliance, this is also a historic moment. The Nature Restoration Law acknowledges the benefits of greenery and nature based solutions as an answer to societal challenges on climate, biodiversity and health and sets a clear perspective in the further development of green urban areas. In the law that was adopted yesterday in the European Parliament, the text was redefined according to the recent compromise reached within the European Council. The definition is now that member states take care for no net loss of green spaces and tree canopy in the total surface of national urban ecosystems by the end of 2030. There is an exemption when there is already more than 45% coverage of green spaces and 10% coverage of tree canopy in the total surface of the national urban ecosystems. After 2030 the member states shall ensure that there is an upward trend of urban green space in the total national area realized by green buildings and green infrastructure till a satisfactory level is reached. This will be measured every six years. The same counts for an upward trend in tree canopy cover. In the amendments there was also attention for the use of native and climate resilient plants, shrubs and trees. To have a clear view on the starting point, there must be an inventory made. After that, restoring plans must be prepared and there will be frequent monitoring on the results.
In the coming months, there will be negotiations in a trialogue between the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission under Spanish Presidency. Then the Nature Restoration Law will be finally defined. The SoGreen Alliance will put forward its point of view at the negotiations table and supports the further elaboration of the law.