Nature Restoration Law Adopted by the EU: Ecoteka, the Renaturation Solution for Local Authorities

          In Europe, as of 2024, over 80% of habitats and 70% of soils are in poor conservation status. More than 50% of Europe's endemic trees, 40% of freshwater fish, and 17% of mammals are threatened with extinction. 

The new EU law on nature restoration, adopted on June 17, marks a crucial step in combating ecosystem degradation and mitigating the effects of climate change. This new commitment by the 27 member states aims to restore ordinary ecosystems: agricultural, forest, marine, and urban areas.

The nature restoration law: Objectives and implications

Objectives of restoration

• 20% by 2030: Restoration measures must cover at least 20% of the EU's terrestrial and marine areas by 2030.

• 30% of habitats in poor condition by 2030: EU countries must restore at least 30% of habitats in poor condition by 2030, 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050.

• Ensure a minimum of 10% tree cover in European cities by 2030.

• Restore at least 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers by 2030.

• Reverse the decline of pollinator populations by 2030.

Priority to Natura 2000 areas

Member states must prioritize Natura 2000 areas until 2030 for restoration efforts. However, these protected areas usually suffer less from ecosystem degradation.

National restoration plans

Each member state must adopt national restoration plans detailing how they will achieve the objectives set by the law.

Biodiversity indicators

The law sets targets for certain biodiversity indicators in the agricultural sector and for the restoration of organic soils in drained peatlands used for agriculture.

Tree planting

The legislation includes the planting of three billion additional trees in the EU.

These objectives require member states and local authorities to take concrete measures to restore and protect biodiversity. Urban areas, in particular, must increase their tree cover and create ecological corridors to improve ecosystem resilience.

Challenges for local authorities

Local authorities face several challenges in complying with the law. The European average for urban green space coverage is 44%. In France, for example, this cover represents only 34% of urban areas:

• Management of tree inventory: Inventory and monitor existing trees.

• Renaturation planning: Identify areas to restore and species to plant.

• Monitoring and evaluation of progress: Measure the impact of restoration actions on biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Ecoteka, an integrated solution to meet the law's requirements

Ecoteka is an open-source web and mobile tool designed to help local authorities manage their tree inventory and plan renaturation. To meet the objectives of the nature restoration law, Ecoteka is packed with features:

• Mapping and inventory of tree population: Ecoteka uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to offer an interactive tree map, including an automated inventory thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) detection.

• Calculation of ecosystem services: The application offers innovative modules to calculate ecosystem services such as carbon storage, cooling islands, and biodiversity preservation.

• Planning of ecological corridors: We are developing a recommendation engine to create ecological corridors and green, blue and brown networks, essential for reconnecting nature in cities.

• Support for planning: Facilitation of intervention planning and renaturation projects, proposing species suitable for mitigating the effects of climate change for planting (in search of funding for its development).

• Phytosanitary diagnostics and monitoring of plantations: Monitoring the health of plantations for sustainable management and ensuring the growth and maintenance of new green spaces.

• Irrigation optimization service: Developing a resilient root system and saving water with our partner UrbaSense.

Advantages of Ecoteka for local authorities

Ecoteka offers several advantages for local authorities:

• Ease of management and monitoring tree inventories: Thanks to an intuitive interface and features for planning interventions, creating projects, and phytosanitary diagnostics.

• Decision support for renaturation: A dashboard of ecosystem services and a recommendation engine for species adapted to climate change (in search of funding for its development).

• Compliance with the law's requirements: By providing tools to inventory, monitor, and plan renaturation, Ecoteka helps local authorities comply with the law's objectives.

Examples of Ecoteka application

• Urban areas: A city can use Ecoteka to increase its tree cover, create ecological corridors, and improve residents' quality of life by reducing heat islands.

• Rural areas: Rural communities can use Ecoteka to restore natural habitats, improve ecosystem connectivity, and support pollinator populations.

The EU's nature restoration law represents a major opportunity to preserve and restore biodiversity. Ecoteka positions itself as a key tool to help local authorities achieve these objectives by offering innovative and effective solutions for managing tree inventory and renaturation.

Adopting Ecoteka means taking care of the existing
and creating a greener and more resilient future.