Europe faces rising climate-related damages, growing pressure on public finances, and urgent biodiversity losses. A new scientific commentary from the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) highlights how fully implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR; Regulation (EU) 2024/1991) is not just a legal requirement but a strategic investment in Europe’s health, security, and economic resilience.

The NRR sets legally binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems on land and at sea, requiring Member States to produce national restoration plans and align with broader EU policies including the Biodiversity Strategy, Green Deal, CAP, Water and Marine Directives, and Forest Strategy.

The Commentary 'Opportunities in Nature Restoration' finds that the estimated cost of restoring Europe’s ecosystems – around EUR 150 billion – is vastly outweighed by benefits at least ten times higher, including avoided disaster losses, improved public health, strengthened food and water security, and enhanced climate resilience.

“Nature restoration is not an environmental luxury. It is basic risk management,” says Prof Thomas Elmqvist, EASAC Environment Director and lead author. “At a time when Europe is spending billions responding to floods, droughts, wildfires, and health impacts, restoring ecosystems is among the smartest preventive investments we can make.”

High-Impact Actions for Key Ecosystems

• Agricultural landscapes: Regenerative agriculture can rebuild soil, biodiversity, water retention, and climate resilience while sustaining yields. Policies should reward measurable outcomes such as carbon stored, biodiversity gains, and improved water regulation.
• Forests: Close-to-nature forestry, mixed-species and age stands, habitat protection, and landscape-level fuel management can reduce wildfire risk and strengthen the forest carbon sink. Bioenergy policies should focus on residues and cascading use.
• Peatlands: Rewetting drained peatlands can sharply reduce emissions, lower wildfire risk, improve water retention, and restore biodiversity.

Three Core Messages

1. Treat and finance nature as a strategic asset: Recognize soils, biomass, wetlands, rivers, and marine ecosystems as essential for carbon storage, water regulation, biodiversity, and food and energy security.
2. Deliver cross-sectoral policy coherence and governance: Align agriculture, forestry, water, energy, marine, and urban policies, supported by clear institutional mandates and accountability.
3. Mainstream preventive restoration: Invest proactively to reduce disaster risks, protect assets, and enhance resilience and strategic autonomy.

EASAC warns that weakening or delaying NRR implementation would increase Europe’s exposure to climate extremes, economic losses, and health impacts.

“Environmental rollbacks do not eliminate costs, they merely shift them forward,”

says Prof Fiona Regan, Co-Chair of EASAC’s Environment Steering Committee.