nature restoration law in India

 nature restoration law in India

 law enacted by the European Union recently is a model worth following

हाल ही में यूरोपीय संघ द्वारा लागू किया गया कानून अनुसरण योग्य आदर्श है

 what is The Nature Restoration Law ? 

it  is a European Union (EU) regulation that aims to restore the EU's nature and protect its environments. The law was adopted in June 2024 and came into force in August 2024. It's the first law of its kind to cover a whole continent 

The law's goals include: 

• Restoring land and sea: By 2030, at least 20% of the EU's land and sea areas will have restoration measures in place. By 2050, all ecosystems that need restoration will have measures in place. 
• Restoring rivers: At least 25,000 km of rivers will be restored to free-flowing by 2030. 
• Planting trees: At least three billion additional trees will be planted by 2030. 
Maintaining urban green space: Green space in cities, towns, and suburbs will not decrease by 2030, and tree cover will increase. 
Improving biodiversity: The law will help improve biodiversity in agricultural and forest ecosystems, and reverse the decline of pollinator populations. 
Reducing climate change: The law will help mitigate climate change and the effects of natural disasters. 

The law requires member states to prepare National Restoration Plans by September 1, 2026. These plans will detail how the member states plan to meet the law's targets and obligations

degradation of natural ecosystems 

is an urgent global issue, and India, with its vast geographical and ecological diversity, is no exception. 

With almost 30% of its total geographical area having land degradation,India . 

The Nature Restoration Law (NRL)

 which was enacted by the European Union (EU), is an inspiring modelfor  India .

The NRL, adopted by the EU’s Environmental Council on June 17, 2024,  aims to restore the health of Europe’s ecosystems.

The regulation was endorsed by a majority of EU member-states, representing 66.07% of the EU population. 

The law mandates 

that at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas must be restored by 2030, with the goal of having all ecosystems in need of restoration fully restored by 2050.

The NRL is part of 

EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the European Green Deal, and it seeks to reverse the alarming trend of biodiversity loss as over 80% of Europe’s habitats are in poor condition. 

It focuses on a 

broad range of ecosystems, from forests and agricultural lands to rivers and urban spaces

implementing specific measures 

• restoration of 25,000 kilometres of rivers into free-flowing rivers
•  and the planting of three billion additional trees by 2030.

The environmental, economic case for India

India is grappling 

According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas, nearly 

• 97.85 million hectares (29.7%) of India’s total geographical area underwent land degradation in 2018-19,
• 
  
•  a sharp increase from 94.53 million hectares in 2003-05. 

Desertification

 with 83.69 million hectares affected in 2018-19.

 The report highlights that land degradation is prevalent in key States such as 

1. Gujarat,
2.  Karnataka, 
3. Maharashtra 
4. Rajasthan, which together form 23.79% of India’s desertified land area.

successful implementation of 

the 

1. Green India Mission, 
2. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, 
3. Integrated Watershed Management Programme (which is second-largest watershed programme in the world) 
4.  National Afforestation Programme. 

What a law in India could look like

A Nature Restoration Law for  India, inspired by the EU’s model, could include.....

First in the list is restoration targets

 India should aim to restore 20% of its degraded land by 2030, with a goal of restoring all ecosystems by 2050. This includes forests, wetlands, rivers, agricultural lands, and urban green spaces.

Second is wetland restoration. 

While peatlands are less common in India, critical wetlands such as the 

• Sundarbans and
•  Chilika Lake support biodiversity and carbon sequestration. A law could target restoring 30% of degraded wetlands by 2030.

Third is biodiversity in agriculture

 Agriculture dominates India’s landscape. Promoting agroforestry and sustainable practices could restore farmlands. Indicators such as the butterfly or bird index used in the EU, could track progress.

Fourth is river restoration.

India could focus on restoring free-flowing rivers, beginning with major rivers such as the Ganga and Yamuna, addressing pollution and obstructions.

Fifth is urban green spaces

To combat urban degradation, India should ensure no net loss of green spaces, promoting urban forests in cities such as Bengaluru and Delhi, which face heat islands and declining air quality.

Economic and social benefits of restoration

 According to the World Economic Forum, nature restoration could globally generate economic returns of up to $10 trillion annually by 2030. 

In India, restoring degraded lands would enhance agricultural productivity, improve water security, and create millions of jobs, particularly in rural areas. The law could also help India meet its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Goal 15, which calls for the sustainable management of forests and combating desertification.

Restoring ecosystems can also mitigate the effects of climate change, which exacerbates land degradation. Degraded land loses its capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, further contributing to global warming. By restoring its ecosystems, India can enhance its carbon sinks and meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The EU’s Nature Restoration Law sets an important precedent for countries worldwide. Given the alarming levels of land degradation and biodiversity loss in India, such a law in India would not only help India restore its degraded ecosystems but also contribute to its socio-economic development and climate resilience. The clock is ticking, and the time to act is now.

source the hindu