The first, preparatory public consultation on the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR), which came into force in August 2024, will run until 3 October 2025.  In addition, the Federal Ministry of Construction (BMWSB) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) are currently drawing up nationwide recommendations to flesh out the individual articles of the Regulation.

The aim of the Biodiversity Regulation is to halt the ongoing loss of biodiversity and to restore ecosystems in all habitats. To this end, it sets out phased qualitative and quantitative targets that oblige Member States to plan and implement appropriate measures in a binding national restoration plan.

The draft National Restoration Plan for Germany is expected in spring 2026. This will be followed by a second, formal consultation phase, before the final National Restoration Plan must be submitted to the European Commission by 1 September 2026. 

A key element of the W-Regulation for the bdla is Article 8 on urban ecosystems. It stipulates that, by the end of 2030, there must be no net loss of urban green space or tree canopy cover at national level. From 2031 onwards, Member States must gradually increase these areas until a ‘satisfactory level’ is reached. In order to clarify these guidelines, which have so far been formulated in general terms, the Federal Ministry of Construction (BMWSB) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) have drawn up uniform recommendations at federal level and forwarded them to the federal states. The federal states are to provide feedback by 1 October 2025 on whether they will adopt these recommendations.

According to the recommendations, the net zero loss target relates to the total national area, meaning that inter-municipal offsets are also possible. Furthermore, neighbouring ecosystem areas may be grouped together. Around 3,000 local authorities fall under the provisions of the article. Municipalities that already have at least 45 per cent urban green space and at least 10 per cent tree canopy cover may initially be exempted until 2031 – around half of the affected municipalities meet these criteria. From 2031, however, these local authorities too must demonstrate a verifiable upward trend in green spaces and tree cover.

To provide technical support, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) have developed a data viewer to help local authorities identify affected areas and ecosystem boundaries.

Further information and access to the participation platform can be found at: https://beteiligung.bundesumweltministerium.de/de/wiederherstellung-der-natur

• Latitude: 0
• Longitude: 0