Fight for biodiversity: Natural rescue law as the last chance!

Fight for biodiversity: Natural rescue law as the last chance!

This day of species protection, March 3, the environmental roof association and the nature conservation association are urgently needed to protect nature. "The alarming numbers speak for themselves: Over 80 percent of the species and habitats in Austria protected in Europe are threatened with extinction," emphasizes Thomas Wrbka, President of the Nature Conservation Association. The main causes are intensive area consumption and the cutting of habitats. In Austria, twelve hectares disappear every day, which is considered a sad maximum in Europe. "We are calling for a nature -friendly spatial planning to stop this loss of space," adds WRBKA, while Franz Maier, President of the Environmental Dach Association, describes the rapid implementation of the recently decided Nature Restoration Law as a decisive opportunity to ensure that species protection. It is important to integrate the restoration of damaged ecosystems and biotope networking into all political areas.

EU law for nature recovery on the way

The EU has recently agreed to a pioneering agreement on the Nature Restoration Law, which imposed on Member States to revitalize at least 20 percent of their land and sea areas by 2030. Further goals are set: 60 percent and 90 percent of the habitats affected are to be brought into good condition by 2050 and 90 percent of the affected ones by 2050. Franz Maier is pleased with this progress: "We have received clear requirements for improving nature on agricultural areas and for the restoration of bogs." These measures not only support biodiversity, but also contribute to the reduction of emissions in the agricultural sector. However, there are concerns about possible loopholes, such as the “emergency brake”, which allows nature conservation measures to be suspended under exceptional circumstances. The fear is that this has already been used and endanger biodiversity, especially under the pretext of nutritional security, as in the case of the Ukraine conflict. Now it is up to the federal states to seem to be proactive steps to implement the law to protect valuable biodiversity areas.