EU restoration targets for rivers and freshwater ecosystems – NGO position

If the EU is serious about achieving the goals set in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, then any legally binding restoration targets that the European Commission committed to propose in 2021 will need to drive the restoration of freshwater ecosystems and reverse the steep decline of freshwater biodiversity. The scoping paper by the Living Rivers Europe Coalition presents elements to be considered as part of the new nature restoration law specifically related to the protection and restoration of free-flowing rivers and freshwater ecosystems. It also builds and complements the position paper ‘Restoring EU’s Nature’ released by a coalition of 20+ NGOs in October 2020.