Biodiversity Enhancement and Ecosystem Restoration

NbS utilise the power of nature to restore ecosystems and enhance biodiversity while delivering essential benefits for climate, society, and the economy. As an expert working with or exploring NbS, this is what they can do for you: 

• Restore damaged ecosystems through wetland and peatland restoration, reforestation, river and floodplain restoration. 
• Enhance biodiversity by facilitating habitat creation, pollinator-friendly landscapes, protecting marine habitats, and re-introducing nature into built environments. 
• Strengthen ecosystem integrity using habitat corridors, nature-friendly agriculture, protection of key ecosystem functions.  
• Increase resilience to climate change and support adaptation through grasslands resistant to drought, shade and protection from trees and vegetation, natural water retention in wetlands and ponds. 
• Provide cost-efficient solutions while creating green jobs and economic opportunities through NbS in infrastructure projects, ecosystem restoration employment. 
• Improve health, social cohesion, and access to nature-rich environments in urban green spaces, parks and green corridors, community-led NbS projects, nature-based public health initiatives. 

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• Enable policymakers to address and fulfil environmental, social, economic obligations and challenges through a single, integrated approach that has nature at its core.  
• Support biodiversity restoration and enhance climate resilience while advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 
• Deliver long term, cost-effective, multifunctional solutions compared to traditional grey infrastructure. 
• Encourage inclusive, participatory governance by engaging communities, stakeholders, and investors. 
• Drive systemic change by linking ecosystem health with long-term societal well-being and resilience, reinforcing a One Health approach.  

Nature Restoration Regulation 

The Nature Restoration Regulation sets out the first legally binding, EU-wide targets for large-scale ecosystem restoration. National restoration plans provide a legally binding framework for integrating NbS into national and local planning that restore protected habitats and enhance biodiversity, whilst building climate resilience, restoring carbon sinks, and delivering ecosystem services. 

EU Birds  and Habitats Directives and Natura 2000 network  

The Birds and Habitats Directives underpins EU biodiversity protection and the Natura 2000 protected area network, making the laws central to safeguarding and restoring ecosystems and species at large scale. The focus on conservation, restoration, and sustainable management closely aligns with NbS and supports their implementation. 

Marine Strategy Framework Directive 

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive protects and restores Europe’s marine ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, climate resilience, and the sustainable use of marine resources. While it does not explicitly reference NbS, its ecosystem-based approach strongly aligns with NbS principles through marine habitat restoration, coastal ecosystem protection, and sustainable management practices. 

Maritime Spatial Planning Directive 

The Maritime Spatial Planning Directive supports the sustainable management of Europe’s marine areas by promoting an ecosystem-based approach that balances economic, social, and environmental needs. While it does not explicitly reference NbS, its focus on protecting marine ecosystems, improving land-sea coordination, and supporting sustainable use aligns strongly with NbS principles. 

EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 

The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 provides a comprehensive framework to reverse biodiversity loss and protect, restore, and sustainably manage ecosystems across Europe. It supports NbS as a key approach to achieving targets on ecosystem restoration, protected areas, climate resilience, sustainable food systems, and urban nature. 

Forest Strategy for 2030  

The EU Forest Strategy for 2030 provides a framework to protect, restore, and sustainably manage European forests while strengthening their role in climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and the delivery of ecosystem services. By promoting forest restoration, closer-to-nature forestry, and sustainable management practices, it supports NbS for addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. 

EU Pollinators Initiative 

The EU Pollinators Initiative aims to reverse pollinator decline by protecting and restoring habitats, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and improving monitoring and knowledge of pollinator populations. It supports NbS through actions such as creating pollinator-friendly landscapes, restoring habitats, and integrating biodiversity measures into urban and rural planning. 

Water Framework Directive 

The Water Framework Directive is the EU's central law for protecting and restoring rivers, lakes, groundwater and coastal waters, requiring Member States to achieve "good status" across their water bodies through river basin management plans. Although it predates the term, its emphasis on restoring water bodies and reducing pressures at catchment scale aligns closely with NbS, supporting measures such as river and floodplain restoration, wetland creation, and natural water retention. It makes catchment-level planning a route through which NbS can be identified, funded and delivered. 

How policy instruments support nbs