When we think of nature, we think of brisk forests with fresh air, mountain hikes, clear water in which we cool off in the summer, or perhaps the sound of rain falling on leaves on an autumn day. We think of precious moments spent in nature with loved ones or walks that allow us to clear our minds.

But can we count on such moments in the future? What is the state of nature around us?

I think we all know the answers to these questions. It is not enough to preserve nature as it is now, we must invite it back into our lives. 80% of EU habitats that have been assessed are in poor condition, despite 30 years of legislation protecting them. Many cities are warming, many agricultural lands are being deserted, and in some countries forests are already emitting more carbon than they absorb. Biodiversity is rapidly declining, and with it the free services that healthy ecosystems used to provide us, such as water filtration, pollination and soil productivity. Economic losses related to this amount to tens of billions per year.

As the effects of climate change accelerate in Europe, we realize every day that if we want to protect our livelihoods and economies from the worst effects, nature must be healthy. This is an undeniable conclusion, supported not only by IPCC climate scientists, but also by data-driven economists, including the European Central Bank. So, to stop the process of biodiversity loss, we need not only to protect nature, but also to help it recover.

In 2022, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a European regulation on the restoration of nature – the first such legislative act in the history of the Union. The proposal combines the overall long-term goal of restoring nature on land and in the EU’s seas with binding recovery targets for specific habitats and species. After several rounds of discussions over the last months during the legislative process, a provisional agreement was finally reached between the European Parliament, EU Member States and the European Commission. This is a clear political signal that gives us hope that the EU remains on the right path to a sustainable future.

The final text, which must be formally approved by the European Parliament and EU member states, is a reference point from which we can begin to heal nature and transform it into our most valuable ally in the fight against climate change. Because this is the essence of restoring nature: we do not lock nature in a laboratory, but integrate it into cities, businesses, farms and residential areas. We live with it and through it, we care for it, and in return we benefit from the ecosystem services it provides to us and future generations.

Once enacted and implemented, this regulation will gradually change our perception of its nature and value to society and the economy. The economic case for a healthy nature has always been clear: the World Economic Forum has determined that more than half of the world’s GDP – around €40 trillion – is related to nature, and that solving the nature crisis could create 395 million jobs by 2030. The OECD estimates that without measures to halt biodiversity loss, costs would be just as high. Between 1997 and 2011, the world is estimated to have lost between €3.75 and €19 trillion per year through land cover changes that reduce ecosystem services, and between €6 and €10 trillion per year through land degradation.

Now we need to turn this potential into concrete results at the micro level, into direct benefits for all of us and our society as a whole, including farmers, fishermen, foresters, asset managers, bankers and the many small businesses that depend on nature.

Let’s take the example of pollinators: the population of wild pollinators (wild bees, syrphids, butterflies, etc.) has declined dramatically in recent decades. Around 80% of crops and almost €5 billion of annual agricultural production in the EU depend on pollinators, so it would be disastrous for food production if the decline in pollinators is not halted.

Restoring the range of ecosystems in which pollinators can thrive is essential to reversing their decline and providing benefits to farmers. This is just one of the benefits that restoring nature can bring us. Across Europe, there are already many achievements and opportunities to improve the nature around us.

The mountains, forests, fields and meadows of Romania are a valuable source of biodiversity. Therefore, Romania will have a lot to gain from the new regulation. By ensuring the health or recovery of its beautiful ecosystems, Romania will automatically have long-term ecosystem services, including abundant food sources and increased resilience to natural disasters and the effects of climate change, including forest fires.

Romania will have the right to decide where to start restoration, choosing the most cost-effective measures in its future national nature restoration plan. Such measures can offer new opportunities for the Romanian economy with mutually beneficial solutions for both nature and business. For example, the restoration of wetlands in the Danube Delta has reconnected the river with its surrounding habitats, creating an environment that now supports many species. Wild tourism and sustainable production of fish and meat bring income to the residents of the region. Restoring wetlands also helps store more carbon and reduce the impact of climate change and extreme weather events such as drought and flooding. Romania has already benefited from EU support for nature restoration, for example through the LIFE and HORIZON programmes.

These vivid examples illustrate how much is already happening on the ground and inspire us to take further action.

Without nature, we have no future. Nature cannot be a luxury. Our farmers, foresters and fishermen are directly dependent on nature and need proper support. Through the Nature Recovery Regulation, as well as through other instruments such as the Common Agricultural Policy, we aim to ensure that they receive the support they need. The restoration of nature is an evolution and a cause for joy. Because it is our hope, it is the surest path we can take to build a future as beautiful as the memories we have and cherish.