30 Amendments of Antoni COMÍN I OLIVERES related to 2022/0195(COD)
Amendment 197 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) It isBiodiversity and nature sustain life on Earth and deliver numerous essential ecosystem services, apart from being intrinsically valuable. They are essential for our long-term survival, wellbeing, prosperity and security. Healthy ecosystems provide food, clean water, carbon sinks and protection against increasing natural disaster risks caused by climate change. Importantly, ecosystems also play a significant role in preventing the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. Nature and biodiversity are also treasured for recreational, spiritual and aesthetic values, forming an important part of our cultural heritage. As a result, the current biodiversity loss and degradation of nature can have fundamental consequences for our society, economy and human health and well-being. Despite existing efforts and voluntary commitments, Europe continues to lose biodiversity at an alarming rate. Many previously agreed policy targets have not and will not be achieved. The Union has so far failed to halt the loss of biodiversity, and it did not meet the voluntary target to restore at least 15% of degraded ecosystems by 2020 in line with Aichi Target 15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It is therefore necessary to lay down rules at Union level on the restoration of ecosystems, habitat types and species to ensure the recovery to biodiverse and resilient nature across the Union territory and sea. Restoring ecosystems also contributes to the Union climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation objectives.
Amendment 350 #
(43) Urban ecosystems represent around 22 % of the land surface of the Union, and constitute the area in which a majority of the citizens of the Union live. Urban green spaces include urban forests, parks and gardens, urban farms, tree-lined streets, urban meadows and urban hedges, and provide important habitats for biodiversity, in particular plants, birds and insects, including pollinators. They also provide vital ecosystem services, including natural disaster risk reduction and control (e.g. floods, heat island effects), cooling, recreationsuch as provisioning services (e.g. the provision of food, fibre and fuel by way of gardens, allotments and community orchards and woodlands), regulating services (e.g. natural disaster risk reduction and control, climate change mitigation and adaptation, cooling, water and air filtration, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptationnd flood prevention), cultural services (e.g. benefits for recreation, tourism, urban landscape and visual amenity) and resulting positive impacts on physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Amendment 372 #
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 and natural water bodies. 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 404 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 51
Recital 51
(51) Since farmland birds are well- known and widely recognised key indicators of the health of agricultural ecosystems, including grasslands, it is appropriate to set targets for their recovery. The obligation to achieve such targets would apply to Member States, not to individual farmers. Member States should achieve those targets by putting in place effective restoration measures on farmland, working with and supporting farmers, research and monitoring organizations and other stakeholders for their design and implementation on the ground.
Amendment 413 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 52
Recital 52
(52) High-diversity landscape features on agricultural land, including buffer strips, rotational or non-rotational fallow land, hedgerows, individual or groups of trees, tree rows, field margins, patches, ditches, streams, small wetlands, terraces, cairns, stonewalls, small ponds and cultural features, provide space for wild plants and animals, including pollinators, prevent soil erosion and depletion, filter air and water, support climate change mitigation and adaptation and agricultural productivity of pollination-dependent crops. Moreover, these features are usually havens for preys and suffer from hunting pressure and ammunition pollution, amongst other impacts. Productive trees that are part of arable land agroforestry systems and productive elements in non-productive hedges can also be considerd as high biodiversity landscape features provided that they do not receive fertilizers or pesticide treatment and if harvest takes place only at moments where it would not compromise high biodiversity levels. Therefore, a requirement to ensure an increasing trend for the shahigh-diversity landscape features ofn agricultural land with high-diversity landscape fshould be set out, and specific meatsures to restore them should be set outadopted. Such a requirement would enable the Union to achieve one of the other key commitments of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, namely, to cover at least 10 % of agricultural area with high-diversity landscape features. Increasing trends should also be achieved for other existing indicators, such as the grassland butterfly index and the stock of organic carbon in cropland mineral soils.
Amendment 433 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 56
Recital 56
(56) The new EU Forest Strategy for 203081 outlined the need to restore forest biodiversity. Forests and other wooded land cover over 43,5 % of the EU’s land space. Forest 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. Forests, and specially mature forests, have also proven positive effects on physical and mental health and well- being of people. _________________ 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 457 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 59
Recital 59
(59) To ensure synergies between the different measures that have been, and are to be put in place to protect, conserve and restore nature in the Union, Member States should take into account, when preparing their national restoration plans: the conservation measures established for Natura 2000 sites and the prioritised action frameworks prepared in accordance with Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC; measures for achieving good ecological and chemical status of water bodies included in river basin management plans prepared in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC; marine strategies for achieving good environmental status for all Union marine regions prepared in accordance with Directive 2008/56/EC; national air pollution control programmes prepared under Directive (EU) 2016/2284; national and subnational biodiversity strategies and action plans developed in accordance with Article 6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as conservation measures adopted in accordance with Regulation 1380/2013 and technical measures adopted in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council83 . _________________ 83 Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006, (EC) No 1224/2009 and Regulations (EU) No 1380/2013, (EU) 2016/1139, (EU) 2018/973, (EU) 2019/472 and (EU) 2019/1022 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 894/97, (EC) No 850/98, (EC) No 2549/2000, (EC) No 254/2002, (EC) No 812/2004 and (EC) No 2187/2005 (OJ L 198, 25.7.2019, p. 105).
Amendment 474 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 63
Recital 63
(63) The national restoration plans should also take into account the results of research and monitoring projects relevant for assessing the condition and the evolution of ecosystems, identifying and putting in place restoration measures, and monitoring purposes.
Amendment 484 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 66
Recital 66
(66) The Commission’s State of Nature Report from 2020 has shown that a substantial share of the information reported by Member States in accordance with Article 17 of Council Directive 92/43/EEC90 and Article 12 of Directive 2009/147/EC, in particular on the conservation status and trends of the habitats and species they protect, comes from partial surveys or is based only on expert judgment. That Report also showed that the status of several habitat types and species protected under Directive 92/43/EEC is still unknown. Filling in those knowledge gaps and investing in monitoring and surveillance are necessary in order to underpin robust and science- based national restoration plans. In order to increase the timeliness, effectiveness and coherence of various monitoring methods, the monitoring and surveillance should make best possible use of the results of Union-funded research and innovation projects, new technologies, such as in-situ monitoring and remote sensing using space data and services delivered under the Union’s Space programme (EGNOS/Galileo and Copernicus). If scientifically reliable, other publicly or privately available sources may be also used, where appropriate. The EU missions ‘Restore Our Ocean and Waters’, ‘Adaptation to Climate Change’, and ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ will support the implementation of the restoration targets91 . _________________ 90 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7). 91 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on European Missions COM(2021) 609 final).
Amendment 494 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 69
Recital 69
(69) The Commission should report on the progress made by Member States towards meeting the restoration targets and obligations of this Regulation on the basis of Union-wide progress reports drawn up by the EEA as well as other analysis and reports made available by Member States or competent regional governments in relevant policy areas such as nature, marine and water policy.
Amendment 499 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 70
Recital 70
(70) To ensure the achievement of the targets and obligations set out in this Regulation, it is of utmost importance that adequate private and public investments are made in restoration, Member States should integrate expenditure for biodiversity objectives, including in relation to opportunity and transition costs resulting from the implementation of the national restoration plans, in their national budgets and reflect how Union funding is used. Regarding the Union funding, expenditure under the Union budget and Union financing programmes, such as the Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE)96 , the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)97 , the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)98 , the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Cohesion Fund99 and the Just Transition Fund100 , as well as the Union framework programme for research and innovation, Horizon Europe101 , contributes to biodiversity objectives with the ambition to dedicate 7,5 % in 2024, and 10 % in 2026 and in 2027 of annual spending under the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework102 to biodiversity objectives. The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)103 is a further source of funding for the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems. With reference to the LIFE Programme, special attention should be given to the appropriate use of the Strategic Nature Projects (SNaPs) as a specific tool that could support the implementation of this Regulation, by way of mainstreaming available financial resources in an effective and efficient way. In relation to public and private investments, the use of innovative financing mechanisms for restoration should be promoted, as well as public-private partnerships. _________________ 100 Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the Just Transition Fund (OJ L 231 30.06.2021, p. 1). 101 Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1290/2013 and (EU) No 1291/2013(OJ L 170, 12.5.2021, p. 1). 102 Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 (OJ L 433I , 22.12.2020, p. 11). 103 Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, p. 17). 96 Regulation (EU) 2021/783 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2021 establishing a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE), and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013 (OJ L 172, 17.5.2021, p. 53). 97 Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 (OJ L 247, 13.7.2021, p. 1). 98 Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 December 2020 laying down certain transitional provisions for support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) in the years 2021 and 2022 and amending Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013, (EU) No 1306/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013 as regards resources and application in the years 2021 and 2022 and Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 as regards resources and the distribution of such support in respect of the years 2021 and 2022 (OJ L 437, 28.12.2020, p. 1). 99 Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 60).
Amendment 508 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 72
Recital 72
(72) Broad public and stakeholder support for and ownership of restoration measures are necessary conditions to ensure the successful implementation of this Regulation, as well as the engagement and assessment of local and regional governments. Member States should promote a fair and cross-society approach in the preparation and implementation of their national restoration plans, by including processes for participation of the public and by considering the needs of local communities and stakeholders.
Amendment 513 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 74
Recital 74
(74) In line with the commitment in the 8th Environment Action Programme to 2030107 , Member States, as well as local and regional governments, if competent, should phase out environmentally harmful subsidies at national and subnational level, and makinge the best use of market-based instruments and green budgeting and financing tools, including those required to ensure a socially fair transition, and supporting businesses and other stakeholders in developing and applying standardised natural capital accounting practices . _________________ 107 [Reference to be added when the 8th EAP has been published].
Amendment 523 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 76
Recital 76
(76) (76) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission in order to specify the method for monitoring pollinators, to specify the methods for monitoring the indicators for agricultural ecosystems listed in Annex IV to this Regulation and the indicators for forest ecosystems listed in Annex VI to this Regulation, to develop a framework for setting the satisfactory levels of pollinators, of indicators for agricultural ecosystems listed in Annex IV to this Regulation and of indicators for forest ecosystems listed in Annex VI to this Regulation, to set out a uniform format for the national restoration plans, to set out the format, structure and detailed arrangements for reporting data and information electronically to the Commissto set out a uniform format for the national restoration plans, to set out the format, structure and detailed arrangements for reporting data and information electronically to the Commission, to establish a method to provide Member States with a standardised format to identify and assess ecological barriers, and to specify the conduct and methods of the monitoring referred to in this Regulation. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and the Council 108 . _________________ 108 Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13).
Amendment 549 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) achieving the Union’s overarching objectives concerning biodiversity loss, climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation;
Amendment 680 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 15 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 15 a (new)
(15a) ‘restoration of the natural connectivity of rivers and natural functions of the related floodplains’ means: (i) the removal of artificial structures affecting the free-flowing character of water, sediment, nutrients, matter and organisms along river systems; (ii) the rehabilitation of hydrological, morphological and biological connectivity between wetlands, floodplains and their river channels; and (iii) the recovery of fluvial processes in general, which are necessary to support a healthy freshwater ecosystem. (iv) the protection of surface waters and upwellings connected to groundwater specially for temporary rivers and wetlands which are largely dependent from groundwater supply to cope with dry periods and scarce flow regimes
Amendment 777 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 5
Article 4 – paragraph 5
5. TWhen deciding on and implementing the restoration measures referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall consider the need for improved, Member States, and local and regional governments if competent, shall ensure improved connectivity between existing protected areas and the connectivity between the habitat types listed in Annex I and take into account the ecological requirements of the species referred to in paragraph 3 that occur in those habitat types. If necessary, appropriate and effective complementary measures shall be adopted.
Amendment 1003 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 5
Article 5 – paragraph 5
5. TWhen deciding on and implementing the restoration measures referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall consider the need for improved, Member States, and local and regional governments if competent, shall ensure improved connectivity between existing protected areas and the connectivity between the habitat types listed in Annex II and take into account the ecological requirements of the species referred to in paragraph 3 that occur in those habitat types. If necessary effective complementary measures shall be adopted.
Amendment 1246 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. Member States, and LAUs when competent, shall remove the barriers to longitudinal and late, lateral, vertical and temporal connectivity of surface waters identified under paragraph 1 of this Article, in accordance with the plan for their removal referred to in Article 12(2), point (fe). When removing barriers, Member Statesthey shall primarily address obsolete barriers, which are those that are no longer needed for renewable energy generation, inland navigation, water supply or other uses, and barriers whose removal has a high ecological impact, including impact on connectivity between marine and freshwater ecosystems and on migration corridors.
Amendment 1261 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall complement the removal of the barriers referred to in paragraph 2 by the measures necessary to improve the natural functions of the related floodplains.and LAUs, if competent, shall map out small water units by 2030, with a view to identifying their restoration and recreation potential and assessing their contribution to improving connectivity between habitats. On the basis of the information collected and reported by Member States, the Commission shall assess the situation of small water units in the Union in order to set restoration targets for small water units, with the aim for Member States to implement restoration actions after 2030
Amendment 1335 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) gEU Grassland bButterfly index; Indicator1a _________________ 1a https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and- maps/figures/european-grassland- butterfly-indicator
Amendment 1361 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(ca) farmland bird index (FBI)1a _________________ 1a https://agridata.ec.europa.eu/Qlik_Downl oads/InfoSheetEnvironmental/infoC35.ht ml
Amendment 1487 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Member States where there is a decreasing trend shall achieve an increasing trend at national level of each of the following indicators in forest ecosystems, as further set out in Annex VI, measured in the period from the date of entry into force of this Regulation until 31 December 2030, and every three years thereafter, until the satisfactory levels identified in accordance with Article 11(3) are reached. Stability rather than increasing trends shall be achieved in those Member States where the indicators show both stability or increased values:
Amendment 1546 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point f a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point f a (new)
(fa) presence of shrub or herbaceous substratum made up of diverse native species;
Amendment 1552 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point f b (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point f b (new)
(fb) balanced presence of native ungulate species.
Amendment 1573 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 a (new)
Article 10 a (new)
Article 10 a Planting of three billion additional trees 1. When identifying and implementing the restoration measures to meet the objectives and obligations set out in Articles 4, 6 and 10, Member States shall contribute to the achievement of the Union objective of planting at least three billion additional trees by 2030. 2. Member States shall ensure that the objective set out in paragraph 1 is achieved in full respect of ecological principles, ensuring species diversity, respecting land morphology, prioritising native tree species and avoiding the use of non-native species and according to scientific assessment and monitoring, since forest management, status and trends shows great variability amongst Member States.
Amendment 1580 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 b (new)
Article 10 b (new)
Article 10 b Preservation of the effects of restoration measures 1. Member States shall ensure the continuous, long-term and sustained effects of the restoration measures referred to in Articles 4 to 10a, in accordance with Article 12(2), point (i), through effective means, including, when applicable, by the designation of protected areas, by the implementation of other effective area-based conservation measures, or by promoting private land conservation measures, taking into account the ecological requirements of the restored areas. 2. When restoration measures apply to primary and old-growth forests, Member States shall strictly protect them. This measure should also apply to forests showing relevant maturity features, so that they can evolve to old-growth forests .
Amendment 1711 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 7 – point f
Article 11 – paragraph 7 – point f
(f) national and subnational biodiversity strategies and action plans developed in accordance with Article 6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity;
Amendment 2288 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex VI – row 2Text proposed by the Commission
Annex VI – row 2Text proposed by the Commission
Amendment 2291 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex VI – row 3Text proposed by the Commission
Annex VI – row 3Text proposed by the Commission