Fight for biodiversity: Nature Conservation Act as the last chance!

Fight for biodiversity: Nature Conservation Act as the last chance!

On today's Species Protection Day, March 3rd, the environmental umbrella organization and the Nature Conservation Association are announcing urgently needed measures to protect nature. “The alarming numbers speak for themselves: Over 80 percent of the species and habitats protected in Europe in Austria are threatened with extinction,” emphasizes Thomas Wrbka, President of the Nature Conservation Association. The main causes are intensive land use and the fragmentation of habitats. In Austria, twelve hectares of land disappear every day, which is considered the sad highest figure in Europe. “We are calling for nature-friendly spatial planning to stop this loss of land,” adds Wrbka, while Franz Maier, President of the environmental umbrella organization, describes the rapid implementation of the recently passed Nature Restoration Law as a crucial opportunity to sustainably anchor species protection. It is important to integrate the restoration of damaged ecosystems and biotope networking into all political areas.2400 1224990

EU nature restoration law on the way

The EU recently agreed to a landmark agreement on the Nature Restoration Law, which requires member states to revitalize at least 20 percent of their land and sea areas by 2030. Further goals have been set: 60 percent of the affected habitats should be brought into good condition by 2040 and 90 percent by 2050. Franz Maier is pleased with this progress: “We have received clear requirements to improve nature on agricultural land and to restore moors.” These measures not only support biodiversity, but also contribute to reducing emissions in the agricultural sector. However, there are concerns about potential loopholes, such as the “emergency brake” that allows conservation measures to be suspended in exceptional circumstances. The fear is that this could affect brownfields that are already in use and endanger biodiversity, especially under the pretext of food security, as in the case of the Ukraine conflict. Now it is up to the federal states to take proactive steps to implement the law in order to protect valuable biodiversity areas.