So far, the federal states responsible for nature conservation in Austria have categorically prevented approval. But now things are moving with Carinthia and Vienna’s advance. On behalf of all our state organizations, I urgently appeal to all other state governors to stand up for nature and for the law to restore it
Thomas Wrbka, President of the Austrian Nature Conservation Association
Austria (OTS) – People and nature need the renaturation law planned by the EU, which, among other things, is intended to promote the rewetting of moors, the creation and renaturation of wetlands, the creation of hedges and colorful borders, and the networking of biotopes and healthy forest ecosystems – including with financial resources. A step that is more than necessary, as over 80 percent of natural habitats in Europe are in poor condition.
The next Council of Environment Ministers after the European elections will decide whether the so-called “EU Nature Restoration Law” (NRL) will come into being. This is intended to ensure that all EU countries pull together and jointly achieve a higher standard in the renaturation of lost natural areas. Austria’s vote could be decisive.
“So far, the federal states responsible for nature conservation in Austria have categorically prevented approval. But now things are moving with Carinthia and Vienna’s advance. On behalf of all our state organizations, I urgently appeal to all other state governors to stand up for nature and for the law to restore it.”
said Thomas Wrbka, President of the Nature Conservation Association.
Negotiations took place for a long time and the compromise paper now available gave the EU states the necessary freedoms. This means that the different circumstances of the countries can also be taken into account during implementation. “We sincerely hope that all federal states can now decide to do this,” says Thomas Wrbka, “this also opens up an opportunity for additional EU budget funds for renaturation projects, which are already overdue in dealing with the climate and biodiversity crisis and, last but not least would also benefit agriculture and forestry.”
The Nature Conservation Association is convinced that nature restoration is a central task and the key to a future worth living. He summarized why this is so important and what the most urgent measures are in a series of background papers on the occasion of his 111th anniversary. Click here for the background paper on “Restoring Nature”.
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