Land and Forest Iceland
Tartu Declaration on the EU Nature Restoration Law
8th September 2024
The Tartu Declaration SERE2024, issued at the 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration, emphasises the urgent need to effectively implement the EU Nature Restoration Law, which came into force on August 18, 2024. It highlighted the critical role of nature restoration in addressing the climate and biodiversity crises, recognising NRL as a cornerstone for ensuring the well-being of future generations of Europeans.
In late August, Tartu, Estonia hosted the conference of the European Division of the Environmental Protection Association (SER Europe). Seven representatives from Land and Forest Iceland, part of a seventeen-person Icelandic delegation, attended the highly successful conference. The event's popularity was evident in the record-breaking number of participants.
The Declaration outlines several key recommendations for the successful implementation of the NRL. Immediate action is urged, taking advantage of existing scientific knowledge to begin restoration efforts across Europe’s ecosystems. Long-term, coherent financing is also pointed out as essential and the establishment of a dedicated EU fund for biodiversity protection and restoration is of utmost importance, and a prerequisite to leverage private capital.
Moreover, the declaration emphasizes the importance of inclusive information sharing and stakeholder engagement, advocating for the integration of bottom-up approaches and promoting a nature restoration culture. It also calls for creating ambitious, scientifically grounded National Restoration Plans, supported by a collaborative effort between policymakers, scientists, and practitioners. Finally, the Declaration insists on rigorous monitoring, reporting, and enforcement to ensure the success of the NRL, with a focus on transparency and the involvement of citizen science.
The Declaration was anonymously supported by 674 participants from 47 countries, reflecting a broad consensus on the need for decisive action to restore and preserve Europe’s natural heritage.