What is needed for the Nature Restoration Regulation NRR

Friday, November 06 , 2026 14

WHITE PAPER FROM THE EUROPEAN FORESTERS
 

The Union of European Foresters (UEF) hold an international high-level seminar
in Berlin on the 27^th of October 2026, where the experts’ presentation was given by;
 

• Dr. Stephanie von Scheliha-Dawid, the Head of Unit for National Forest Policy at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) – presented the Federal view to NRR from the land-use-policy perspective
• Mrs. Angelika Rubin, Policy Officer from EU Commission – informed the NRR situation on national and international level
• the Forest Experts from Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, Poland and Sweden – presented what is needed to reach the NRR  

Main Conclusions reflecting the NRR;

• Flexibility will be needed to adapt restoration targets – because of the unique conditions and rural realities
• Transparency and Reliability: restoration targets must be explained and are subject of national participation process
• Monitoring systems and rules must be defined accordingly in a comprehensible
•  
• Sustainable funding and realistic commitments are key to successful restoration
• Private landowners are essential partners in delivering results - flexibility, incentives, and voluntary action work better than new restrictions.
• From Foresters’ perspective the NRL needs to be defined into the practical level

There was a bright consensus about the great importance of the NRL for the conservation and restoration of biodiversity in Europe. The ongoing climate change is the most important challenge for developing ecosystems. There is a great uncertainty about the reactions of ecosystems in terms of the changing weather conditions.

For that the new Guidance “Natura 2000 and climate change” is a very helpful base for the adaptation of ecosystems to the new and ongoing changing climate conditions. It was agreed that a lot of financial resources are needed to be able to tackle these challenges sustainably. The Member States are waiting for the EU-COM define the financial fundament. The Member States have to ensure as well, that, from their perspective, sufficient resources are made available.

Voluntary measures are only possible, if they are financed as ecosystem services and will be able to be part of the income the land owners need. When climate change is creating fundamental problems for habitat sites and species population, there is important to monitor the situation and development. But there are a lot of national and international data being collected and could be checked. Climate change is reality and foresters and owners have to react now on the base of practical and evidence- based knowledge.

• The Union of European Foresters is willing to support the legislation and to build a bridge between the EU-legislation and the practical interests and needs of foresters and forest owners all over Europe.