Designating and creating protected areas will not be enough to restore biodiversity, achieve a favourable conservation status across the country and maintain the provision of ecosystem services. Many areas are already degraded to varying degrees and need to be restored. Care must be taken to ensure that the principle of restoration does not become an argument to justify the degradation of ecosystems that are still in good condition. The aim of this objective is to reverse the loss of ecosystems and not to increase the area, which could lead to further degradation despite the positive figures.

This target is in line with target 2 of the K-M GBF and with certain targets of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, including reversing the decline of pollinators, planting three billion additional trees in the EU in full compliance with ecological principles and restoring at least 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers.

A vision for nature restoration has been drawn up for the North Sea in which 3 priority efforts will be made to restore 3 habitats: gravel beds, oyster beds and the enhancement of other biogenic reefs such as aggregations of shell tube worms. The objectives of the plan are to (1) reduce pressure on the system; (2) increase knowledge about the system and possible restoration measures; (3) implement restoration measures; and (4) raise awareness among stakeholders and the general public.

The Nature Restoration Regulation also contains a set of specific targets relating to pollinating insects, forest, urban, agricultural and marine ecosystems and river connectivity. This regulation establishes a framework within which Member States must implement effective, area-based restoration measures, with the aim of collectively covering at least 20% of terrestrial areas and at least 20% of marine areas by 2030. Member states must submit draft national recovery plans to the European Commission within two years of the regulation entering into force showing how they will achieve the targets set. The plan will set out a trajectory up to 2050 to gradually restore all habitats (terrestrial and marine) to favourable conservation status and ensure that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of habitats not currently in favourable conservation status fall into this category, and that habitat trends and conservation status do not deteriorate further. The plan will also aim to achieve the favourable habitat baseline, ensuring connectivity and enabling the deployment of nature-based solutions as a default solution in the fight against the climate and biodiversity crisis. Restoration measures will also be taken for the habitats of species protected under the Birds and Habitats Directives. This plan will be prepared transparently, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including civil society, and will determine the financial instruments to be used for its implementation. Member States must also monitor and report on their progress. The implementation of this European legislation, together with the European soil strategy at national level, will substantially contribute to achieving this objective.

Soil degradation impairs its ability to provide essential ecosystem services, such as water retention and carbon absorption, which are vital for climate regulation and ecosystem protection. Restoring soil health is therefore critical to ensure ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change and to sustainably support biodiversity.