Activities of Paola GHIDONI related to 2022/0195(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on nature restoration
Amendments (62)
Amendment 156 #
(8a) In its resolution of 24 November 2022 on the protection of livestock farming and large carnivores in Europe, Parliament calls on the Commission to assess progress in achieving the conservation status of species at the level of biogeographical regions and/or EU- wide populations, and insists that the Commission develop an assessment procedure without delay to enable the protection status of populations in particular regions to be amended as soon as the desired conservation status has been reached, in accordance with Article 19 of the Habitats Directive;
Amendment 161 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9a) In its resolution of 20 October 2021 on a farm to fork strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system, Parliament pointed out that impact assessments were an integral part of the EU rule-making process;
Amendment 168 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) The Commission’s State of Nature Report from 202053 noted that the Union has not yet managed to stem the decline of protected habitat types and species whose conservation is of concern to the Union. That decline is caused mostly by abandonment of extensive agriculture, intensifying management practices, the modification of hydrological regimes, urbanisation and pollution as well as unsustainable forestry activities and species exploitation. Furthermore, invasive alien species and climate change represent major and growing threats to native Union flora and fauna. _________________ 53 Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee “The state of nature in the European Union Report on the status and trends in 2013 - 2018 of species and habitat types protected by the Birds and Habitats Directives”, COM/2020/635 final.
Amendment 176 #
(13) It is appropriate to set an overarching objective for ecosystem restoration to foster economic and societal transformation, the creation of high-quality jobs and sustainable growth. Biodiverse ecosystems such as wetland, freshwater, forest as well as agricultural, sparsely vegetated, marine, coastal and urban ecosystems deliver, if in good condition, a range of essential ecosystem services, and the benefits of restoring degraded ecosystems to good condition in all land and sea areas far outweigh the costs of restoration. Those services contribute to a broad range of socio-economic benefits, depending on the economic, social, cultural, regional and local characteristics.
Amendment 193 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Geo-political developments have further underlined the need to safeguarprotect and enhance food security and the resilience of food systems.62 Evidence shows that restoring agro-degraded 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 resilience. _________________ 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 200 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The restoration of ecosystems, coupled with efforts to reduce wildlife trade and, consumption and to promote sustainable management, will also help prevent and build up resilience to possible future communicable diseases with zoonotic potential, therefore decreasing the risks of outbreaks and pandemics, and contribute to support EU and global efforts to apply the One Health approach, which recognises the intrinsic connection between human health, animal health and healthy resilient nature.
Amendment 206 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) Building on Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC and in order to support the achievement of the objectives set out in those Directives, Member States should put in place restoration measures to ensure the recovery of protected habitats and species, including wild birds, across Union areas, also in areas that fall outside Natura 2000, always ensuring compliance with the principle of coexistence with agricultural activity.
Amendment 255 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 45
Recital 45
(45) The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 requires greater efforts to restore freshwater ecosystems and the natural functions of rivers. The restoration of freshwater ecosystems should include efforts to restore the natural longitudinal and lateral connectivity of rivers as well as their riparian areas and floodplains, including through the removal of barriers with a view to supporting the achievement of favourable conservation status for rivers, lakes and alluvial habitats and species living in those habitats protected by Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC, and the achievement of one of the key objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, namely, the restoration of at least 25 000 km of free-flowing rivers. When removing barriers, Member States should primarily address obsolete barriers, which are those that are no longer needed for renewable energy generation, inland navigation, water supply or other uses.
Amendment 260 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 48
Recital 48
(48) The proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the sustainable use of plant protection products [for adoption on 22 June 2022, include title and number of the adopted act when available] aims to regulate one of the drivers of pollinator decline by prohibiting the use of pesticides in ecologically sensitive areas, many of which are covered by this Regulation, for example areas sustaining pollinator species which the European Red Lists76 classify as being threatened with extinction. _________________ 76 European Redlist - Environment - European Commission (europa.eu).
Amendment 269 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 49
Recital 49
(49) Sustainable, resilient and biodiverse agricultural ecosystems are needed to provide safe, sustainable, nutritious and affordable food. Biodiversity-rich agricultural ecosystems also increase agriculture’s resilience to climate change and environmental risks, while ensuring food safety and security and creating new jobs in rural areas, in particular jobs linked to conventional organic farming as well as rural tourism and recreation. Therefore, the Union needs to improve the biodiversity in its agricultural lands, through a variety of existing practices beneficial to or compatible with the biodiversity enhancement, including extensive agriculture. Extensive agriculture is vital for the maintenance of many species and habitats in biodiversity rich areas. There are many extensive agricultural practices which have multiple and significant benefits on the protection of biodiversity, ecosystem services and landscape features such as precision agriculture, organic farming, agro-ecology, agroforestry and low intensity permanent grassland.
Amendment 286 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 52
Recital 52
Amendment 310 #
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 shouldcan 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 can come from a wide range of sources, including expenditure under the Union budget and Union financing programmes.
Amendment 369 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the continuous, long-term and sustained recovery of biodiverse and resilient nature across the Union’s land and sea areas through the restoration of degraded ecosystems;
Amendment 391 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. This Regulation establishes a framework within which Member States shall put in place, without delay, effective and area-based restoration measures which together shall cover, by 2030, at least up to 20 % of the Union’s land and sea areas and, by 2050, all ecosystems in need of restoration.
Amendment 400 #
(1 a) ‘degraded ecosystems’ means an ecosystem that due to the loss of their natural conditions, have lost their production capacity, ability to produce important ecosystem services or ability to capture and store carbon dioxide;
Amendment 406 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) ‘restoration’ means the process of actively or passively assisting the recovery of an ecosystem towards or to good condition, of a habitat type to the highest level of condition attainable and to its favourable reference area, of a habitat of a species to a sufficient quality and quantity, or of species populations to satisfactory levels, as a means of cona state in which the ecosystem sufficiently produces important ecosystem servingces or enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem resiliencesufficiently hosts biological diversity;
Amendment 419 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 4
(4) ‘good condition’ means a state where the key characteristics of an ecosystem, namely its physical, chemical, compositional, structural and functional state, and its landscape and seascape characteristics, reflect the high level of ecological integrity, stability and resilience necessary to ensure its long-term maintenance and productivity;
Amendment 448 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 13
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 13
(13) ‘urban green space’ means all green urban areas; broad-leaved forests; coniferous forests; mixed forests; natural grasslands; moors and heathlands; transitional woodland-shrubs and sparsely vegetated areas - excluding areas used for agricultural purposes, as found within cities or towns and suburbs calculated on the basis of data provided by the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service as established by Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the European Parliament and of the Council110; _________________ 110 Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing the Union Space Programme and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme and repealing Regulations (EU) No 912/2010, (EU) No 1285/2013 and (EU) No 377/2014 and Decision No 541/2014/EU (OJ L 170, 12.5.2021, p. 69).
Amendment 451 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 15 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 15 a (new)
(15 a) “force majeure”: result in the deterioration of areas covered by those habitat types, as well as unavoidable habitat transformations which are directly caused by climate change, or as a result of a plan or project of overriding public interest, for which no less damaging alternative solutions are available, to be determined on a case by case basis, or of a plan or project authorized in accordance with Article 6(4) of Directive 92/43/EEC;
Amendment 468 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall put in place the restoration measures that are necessary to improve to good condition areas of habitat types listed in Annex I which are not in good condition. Such measures shall be in place on at least 30 % of the area of each group of habitat typeoverall areas listed in Annex I that is not in good condition, as quantified in the national restoration plan referred to in Article 12, by 2030, on at least 60 % by 2040, and on at least 90 % by 2050.
Amendment 478 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall put in place the restoration measures that are necessary to re-establish the habitat types listed in Annex I in areas not covered by those habitat types. Such measures shall be in place on areas representing at least 30 % of the additional overall surface needed to reach the total favourable reference area of each group of habitat types listed in Annex I, as quantified in the national restoration plan referred to in Article 12, by 2030, at least 60 % of that surface by 2040, and 100 % of that surface by 2050.
Amendment 525 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 7
Article 4 – paragraph 7
7. Member States shall ensure that areas where the habitat types listed in Annex I occur inside Natura 2000 do not deteriorate.
Amendment 549 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 8 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 8 – point c
(c) a project of overriding public interest for which no less damaging alternative solutions are available, to be determined on a case by case basis, including measures to maintain food security and production of food and renewable resources.
Amendment 567 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 9 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 9 – point a
(a) force majeure, including natural disasters;
Amendment 574 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 9 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 9 – point b
(b) unavoidable habitat transformations or other circumstances which are directly caused by climate change: or
Amendment 593 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 10 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 10 – point a
(a) an increase of habitat area in good condition for habitat types listed in Annex I until at least 90 % is in good condition and until the favourable reference area for each habitat type in each biogeographic region of their territory is reached;
Amendment 596 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 10 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 10 – point b
(b) an increasing trend towards the sufficient quality and quantity of the terrestrial, coastal and freshwater habitats of the species referred to in Annexes II, IV and V to Directive 92/43/EEC and of the species covered by Directive 2009/147/EC.
Amendment 604 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall put in place the restoration measures that are necessary to improve to good condition areas of habitat types listed in Annex II which are evaluated not in good condition based on the best available knowledge. Such measures shall be in place on at least 320 % of theeach area of each groups of habitat types listed in Annex II that is not in good condition, as quantified in the national restoration plan referred to in Article 12, by 2030, on at least 60 % by 2040, and on at least 90 % by 2050.
Amendment 609 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall put in place the restoration measures that are necessary to re-establish the habitat types listed in Annex II in estimated areas not covered by those habitat types, based on the best available knowledge. Such measures shall be in place on areas representing at least 320 % of the additional overall surface evaluated as needed to reach the total favourable reference area of each group of habitat types, based on the best available knowledge, as quantified in the national restoration plan referred to in Article 12, by 2030, at least 60 % of that surface by 2040, and 100 % of that surface by 2050.
Amendment 615 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. The determination of the most suitable areas for restoration measures in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall be based on the best available knowledge and the latest scientific evidence of the condition of the habitat types listed in Annex II, measured by the structure and functions which are necessary for their long-term maintenance, including their typical species, 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. Areas where the habitat types listed in Annex II are in unknown condition shall be considered as not being in good condition.
Amendment 696 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall, taking into account social and economic requirements, put in place the restoration measures necessary to enhance biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems, in addition to the areas that are subject to restoration measures under Article 4(1), (2) and (3).
Amendment 709 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Member States shall achieve an increasing trend at national level of each of the following indicators in agricultural ecosystems, as further specified in Annex IV, measured in the period from the date of entry into force of this Regulation until 31 December 20305, and every three years thereafter, until the satisfactory levels, identified in accordance with Article 11(3), are reached:
Amendment 712 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a
Amendment 717 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point b
Amendment 732 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) share of agricultural land with high- diversity landscape features according to the CAP Strategic plan.
Amendment 747 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) 110 by 20305, 120 by 20405 and 130 by 20505, for Member States listed in Annex V with historically more depleted populations of farmland birds;
Amendment 771 #
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 on at least:
Amendment 777 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Amendment 789 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Amendment 804 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Amendment 816 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 906 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point a – point ii
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point a – point ii
(ii) the habitat area evaluated as not in good condition;
Amendment 937 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3
Article 11 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall set, by 2030 at the latest, satisfactory levels for each of the indicators referred to in Articles 8(1), 9(2) and 10(2), through an open and effective process and comprehensive assessment, based on the latest scientific evidence and, if available, the framework referred to in Article 17(9). When identifying the indicators referred to in Article 10(2) (a) and (b), Member States shall also consider phytosanitary safety criteria aimed at preventing the spread of harmful pathogens for the forest ecosystem species.
Amendment 952 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 4
Article 11 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall identify and map the agricultural and forest areas in need of restoration, in particular the areas that, due to intensification or other management factors, are in need of enhanced connectivity and landscape diversity.
Amendment 1005 #
11 a. The restoration plan is carried out in consultation and cooperation with representatives of owners and managers. Member States shall ensure that the preparation of the restoration plan complies with the principle of prior and informed consent and that no area is considered for restorations actions without its owner having the opportunity to express its view on the projects nor without the available financial means for adequate compensation.
Amendment 1010 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. The national restoration plan shall cover the period up to 2050, with intermediate deadlines corresponding to the targets and obligations set out in Articles 4 to 130.
Amendment 1044 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point k – point iii a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point k – point iii a (new)
(iii a) synergies, objectives and results of other National Plans foreseen by other policies, such as the CAP National Plans;
Amendment 1098 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2
Article 14 – paragraph 2
2. When assessing the draft national restoration plan, the Commission shall evaluate its compliance with Article 12, as well as its adequacy for meeting the targets and obligations set out in Articles 4 to 10, as well as the Union’s overarching objectives referred to in Article 1, the specific objectives referred to in Article 7(1) to restore at least 25 000 km of rivers into free-flowing rivers in the Union by 20305 and the 20305 objective of covering at least 10% of the Union’s agricultural area with high-diversity landscape features.
Amendment 1106 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 5
Article 14 – paragraph 5
Amendment 1147 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point c
Amendment 1163 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 5
Article 17 – paragraph 5
5. The monitoring in accordance with paragraph 1, points (a), (b) and (c), of this Article, concerning the stock of organic carbon in cropland mineral soils and the share of agricultural land with high- diversity landscape features, and (e) concerning the standing deadwood, the lying deadwood, the share of forests with uneven-aged structure, the forest connectivity and the stock of organic carbon, shall be carried out at least every three years, and, where possible, every year. The monitoring in accordance with that paragraph, point (c) concerning the grassland butterfly index, that paragraph, points (d) and (e) concerning the common forest bird index, and that paragraph, point (f) concerning pollinator species shall be carried out every year. The monitoring in accordance with that paragraph, points (g) and (h), shall be carried out at least every six years and shall be coordinated with the reporting cycle under Article 17 of Directive 92/43/EEC.
Amendment 1194 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The first reports shall be submitted in June 20316, covering the period up to 20305.
Amendment 1208 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Amendment 1217 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2
Article 19 – paragraph 2
Amendment 1223 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 3
Article 19 – paragraph 3
Amendment 1229 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 4
Article 19 – paragraph 4
Amendment 1233 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 5
Article 19 – paragraph 5
Amendment 1237 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 6
Article 19 – paragraph 6
Amendment 1249 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1
Article 22 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall evaluate the application of this Regulation by 31 December 203540.
Amendment 1254 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 2
Annex II – paragraph 2
Amendment 1255 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – title
Annex III – title
Amendment 1267 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex VII – point 24
Annex VII – point 24
(24) Minimise negative impacts of fishing activities on the marine ecosystem, for example by using gear with less impact on seabedas provided in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.