Activities of Chris MACMANUS related to 2022/0195(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Nature restoration (A9-0220/2023 - César Luena)
Amendments (19)
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 aims to ensure that Europe’s biodiversity will be put on the path to recovery by 2030 for the benefits of people, the planet, the climate, food sovereignty, and our economy. It sets out an ambitious EU nature restoration plan with a number of key commitments, including a commitment to put forward a proposal for legally binding EU nature restoration targets to restore degraded ecosystems, in particular those with the most potential to capture and store carbonacross all land types to achieve the greatest synergistic benefits, and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters.
Amendment 186 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Geo-political developments have further underlined the need to safeguard the resilience of food systems.62 Evidence shows that restoring agro-ecosystems has positive impacts on food productivity in the long-term, and that the restoration of nature acts as an insurance policy to ensure the EU’s long-term sustainability and resilienceIt is important to strongly emphasise the need for actions to promote sustainable farming, hunting and forestry that supports the recovery of species and habitats, including pollinators and their habitats. The importance of supporting positive, resilient and sustainable agricultural production is also critical. In addition it is important that Member States, the Council, and Commission recognise that the viability of rural communities, resilience and productivity of food systems, food availability, healthy market conditions, competitivity, food affordability, and food sovereignty in the long-term is conditional on a healthy and functional biosphere, climate stability and water availability. _________________ 62 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European, Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems, COM (2022) 133 final.
Amendment 215 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) Deadlines should therefore be established for putting in place restoration measures within and beyond Natura 2000 sites, in order to gradually improve the condition of protected habitat types across the Union as well as to re-establish them until the favourable reference area needed to achieve favourable conservation status of those habitat types in the Union is reached. In advance of setting deadlines to meet targets and to ensure legal certainty for those affected Member States, the Commission and national governments should conduct an initial comprehensive ecological assessment to establish accurate baselines, propose a suite of measures that have been shown to achieve the desired results. Adequate resources should be mobilised so that sufficient funds are in place to support measures that are proposed to compensate and protect impacted agricultural landowners, hunters, farmers and foresters to both practically achieve nature restoration whilst safeguarding the socio-economic viability of rural communities. Achievable timelines should be set for delivering results and allow sufficient flexibility and adaptability in implementation in order to ensure the greatest environmental benefit. In order to give the necessary flexibility to Member States to put in place large scale restoration efforts, it is appropriate to group habitat types according to the ecosystem to which they belong and set the time-bound and quantified area-based targets for groups of habitat types. This will allow Member States to choose which habitats to restore first within the group.
Amendment 226 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29 a (new)
Recital 29 a (new)
(29a) It is critical for the success of any restoration program that sufficient funds are mobilised to underpin the economic viability of the landowners and communities affected in advance of any implementation; In light of the Commissions own estimation that for every €1 invested in nature restoration there is an economic return of €8 to €38, there is a legitimate expectation that those delivering the essential public goods will be adequately and fully remunerated for the services that they are providing for the benefit of wider society.
Amendment 227 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29 b (new)
Recital 29 b (new)
(29b) Stresses that in order to get public “buy in” to new measures, the food sovereignty of local and regional areas is not undermined by the implementation of this regulation; reaffirms the fundamental human right of people to food, and the right of populations who in the past, provided for themselves and their region to continue to do so into the future.
Amendment 228 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29 c (new)
Recital 29 c (new)
(29c) It will be necessary when calculating the remuneration due for the services provided, that the methodology goes beyond the narrow lens of “costs incurred and income forgone” by the farmer, as the socio-economic losses to the wider community can be much greater with the loss of both upstream and downstream economic activity in the local area.
Amendment 275 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 50
Recital 50
(50) Restoration measures need to be put in place to enhance the biodiversity of agricultural ecosystems across the Union, including in the areas not covered by habitat types that fall within the scope of Directive 92/43/EEC. In the absence of a common method for assessing the condition of agricultural ecosystems that would allow setting specific restoration targets for agricultural ecosystems, it is appropriate to set a general obligation to improve biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems and measure the fulfilment of that obligation on the basis of existing indicators. There is significant concern that landowners of agricultural ecosytems and farmers will be prevented from carrying out specific actions that will inhibit income and food production.
Amendment 300 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 54
Recital 54
(54) Restoration and rewetting79 of organic soils80 in agricultural use (i.e. under grassland and cropland use) constituting drained peatlands may help achieve significant biodiversity benefits, an important reduction of green-house gas emissions and other environmental benefits, while at the same time contributing to a diverse agricultural landscape if implemented correctly, however it can have a negative effect on biodiversity is not managed correctly through the destruction of existing habitats of ground nesting birds and small mammals. In addition the increased emissions of methane from rewetted peatland may negate partially or totally the reduction of CO2. Member States can choose from a wide range of restoration measures for drained peatlands in agricultural use spanning from converting cropland to permanent grassland and extensification measures accompanied by reduced drainage, to full rewetting with the opportunity of paludicultural use, or the establishment of peat-forming vegetation. In order for these far reaching measures to be accepted by the landowners it is vital that that proposed measures are “stress tested” and evaluated for their applicability and suitability in advance, through EIP pilot projects and impact assessments so the desired outcomes can be assured and to avoid the negative outcomes of the top down implementation of the past. The most significant climate benefits are created by restoring and rewetting cropland followed by the restoration of intensive grassland. To allow for a flexible implementation of the restoration target for drained peatlands under agricultural use Member States may count the restoration measures and rewetting of drained peatlands in areas of peat extraction sites as well as, to a certain extent, the restoration and rewetting of drained peatlands under other land uses (for example forest) as contributing to the achievement of the targets for drained peatlands under agricultural use. _________________ 79 Rewetting is the process of changing a drained soil into a wet soil. Chapter 1 of IPCC 2014, 2013 and Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Wetlands, Hiraishi, T., Krug, T., Tanabe, K., Srivastava, N., Baasansuren, J., Fukuda, M. and Troxler, T.G. (eds). 80 The term ‘organic soil’ is defined in IPCC 2006, 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Prepared by the National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme, Eggleston H.S., Buendia L., Miwa K., Ngara T. and Tanabe K. (eds).
Amendment 308 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 55
Recital 55
(55) In order to reap the full biodiversity benefits, restoration and rewetting of areas of drained peatland should extend beyond the areas of wetlands habitat types listed in Annex I of Directive 92/43/EEC that are to be restored and re-established. Data about the extent of organic soils as well as their greenhouse gas emissions and removals are monitored and made available by LULUCF sector reporting in national greenhouse gas inventories by Member States, submitted to the UNFCCC. Restored and rewetted peatlands can continue to be used productively in alternative ways. For example, paludiculture, the practice of farming on wet peatlands, can include cultivation of various types of reeds, certain forms of timber, blueberry and cranberry cultivation, sphagnum farming, and grazing with water buffaloes. Such practices should be based on the principles of sustainable management and aimed at enhancing biodiversity so that they can have a high value both financially and ecologically. Paludiculture can also be beneficial to several species which are endangered in the Union and can also facilitate the connectivity of wetland areas and of associated species populations in the Union. Funding for measures to restore and rewet drained peatlands and to compensate possible losses of income; Definitive clear adequate funding streams must be in place in advance of proposed measures being implemented, this can come from a wide range of sources, including expenditure under the Union budget and Union financing programmes.
Amendment 313 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 56
Recital 56
(56) The new EU Forest Strategy for 203081 outlined the need to restore forestthe biodiversity of forests, agroforests and urban woodlands. Forests and other wooded land cover over 43,5 % of the EU’s land space. Forests and agroforestry ecosystems that host rich biodiversity are vulnerable to climate change but are also a natural ally in adapting to and fighting climate change and climate-related risks, including through their carbon-stock and carbon-sink functions, and provide many other vital ecosystem services and benefits, such as the provision of timber and wood, food and other non-wood products, climate regulation, soil stabilisation and erosion control and the purification of air and water. _________________ 81 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. New EU Forest Strategy for 2030 (COM/2021/572 final).
Amendment 454 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 15 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 15 a (new)
(15 a) Agroforestry systems are “land use systems where trees are grown in combination with agriculture on the same land” (Regulation 2022/2472 Article 2.9) and are further clarified in national CAP strategic plans;
Amendment 492 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. The determination of the most suitable areas for restoration measures in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article shall be based on the best available knowledge and the latest scientific evidence of the condition of the habitat types listed in Annex I, measured by the structure and functions which are necessary for their long-term maintenance including their typical species, as referred to in Article 1(e) of Directive 92/43/EEC, and of the quality and quantity of the habitats of the species referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article. A; areas where the habitat types listed in Annex I are in unknown condition shall be considered as not being in good conditiona comprehensive initial ecological assessment shall be carried to establish high resolutions baselines (using IACS/ LPIS) and to ensure the suitability of proposed measures.
Amendment 767 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
For organic soils in agricultural use constituting drained peatlands, Member States shall put in place restoration measures. Those measures shall be in place ; In order for these measures to achieve the desired outcomes they shall be stress tested and evaluated for their applicability and suitability in advance, through EIP pilot projects and impact assessments so as negative outcomes can be avoided; After demonstrating their suitability in advance these measures shall be in place on at least:
Amendment 782 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) 30 % of such areas by 2030, of which at least a quarter shall be rewetted; Paludiculture systems;
Amendment 793 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) 50 % of such areas by 2040, of which at least half shall be rewettedPaludiculture systems;
Amendment 807 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) 70 % of such areas by 2050, of which at least half shall be rewetted.Paludiculture systems;
Amendment 828 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3 a (new)
Where applicable, in advance of imposing measures contained in this article on private property, Member States shall firstly use state owned land constituting of organic soils to contribute to achieving the respective targets referred to in the first subparagraph, points (a), (b) and (c)
Amendment 1130 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – title
Article 16 – title
16 AEnsuring a just transition and access to justice
Amendment 1134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Member States shall ensure that members of the public, in accordance with national law, that have a sufficient interest or that maintain the impairment of a right, have access to a review procedure before a court of law, or an independent and impartial body established by law, to challenge the substantive or procedural legality of the national restoration plans and any failures to act of the competent authorities, regardless of the role members of the public have played during the process for preparing and establishing the national restoration plan.