Nature Restoration Law makes preservation of urban green space mandatory

NEWS

POLICY & LEGAL

Heleen Kommers, Friday 19 June 2026

183 sec

Municipalities face greater responsibility for urban greenery and trees, but many implementation questions remain unanswered

The European Nature Restoration Law provides municipalities with a stronger basis for protecting and expanding urban green space. Whereas greening initiatives were previously often dependent on local ambitions, the law now imposes concrete obligations. The situation in 2024 serves as the reference point: until 2030, the area of urban green space and tree canopy cover may not fall below that level. From 2031 onwards, both must demonstrably increase.

Kronenburgerpark in Nijmegen, image for illustration purposes

During an expert meeting organised by Elba\Rec in Amersfoort, several specialists emphasised that the benefits of urban greenery are widely recognised, but that green space in practice still has to compete with housing development, parking pressure and limited budgets. The new law is intended to change this by embedding nature restoration more firmly in policy and area development.

Many municipalities are still insufficiently prepared for the consequences of the legislation

No net loss allowed

For municipalities, Article 8 of the Nature Restoration Law is particularly important. This article focuses on urban green space and tree canopy cover. The law uses 2024 as its baseline: until 2030, the area of urban green space and tree canopy cover may not fall below the level recorded in that year. From 2031 onwards, both must demonstrably increase. This means municipalities already need to consider monitoring, reporting and embedding these objectives into policy, management and area development.
The Netherlands must submit a draft national restoration plan to the European Commission by September 2026. A year later, it should become clear how implementation will take shape in practice. Until then, it remains uncertain how the obligations will be translated into local policy.

Until 2030, the area of urban green space and tree canopy cover may not fall below 2024 levels. From 2031 onwards, both must demonstrably increase

Municipalities can start now

According to the experts present, municipalities do not need to wait for all legal details to be finalised. They can already update their green space and tree inventories, improve protection of existing greenery and assess new projects for potential green space loss. Nature-inclusive construction can also be more firmly embedded in spatial planning.
At the same time, not all experts are optimistic. During the meeting, it was pointed out that many municipalities are still insufficiently prepared for the consequences of the law. Trees are under pressure from heat, drought, limited rooting space and deferred maintenance. If the law is fully implemented, it will become more difficult to justify tree removal than is often the case today.

Until then, it remains unclear how the obligations will be translated into local policy

Not only more green space, but better green space

According to several speakers, an important concern is that the law primarily focuses on green space area and tree canopy cover. These figures are easy to measure, but they say little about the ecological quality of the greenery. A grass field or a young row of trees does not automatically contribute to nature restoration.
For this reason, nature organisations advocate explicitly linking urban green space to habitats for birds, pollinators and other species. Private green space, such as gardens, business parks and shopping areas, also counts towards the urban green balance. According to the experts, this makes cooperation with residents and businesses an important part of implementation.

The law focuses primarily on green space area and tree canopy cover. These figures are easy to measure, but they say little about the ecological quality of urban greenery

Green space no longer solely the responsibility of the parks department

The conclusion of the meeting was that the Nature Restoration Law extends beyond the responsibilities of green space managers alone. The challenge also affects departments such as housing, real estate, transport, drainage and area development. In the coming years, municipalities will need to determine how they translate the European targets into their own organisations and projects. The sector is therefore calling for clear frameworks, measurement methods and support from the national government.

Private green space, such as gardens, business parks and shopping areas, also counts towards the urban green balance

Key elements of the EU Nature Restoration Law

The EU Nature Restoration Law consists of several restoration objectives. During the expert meeting, Guido Hamelink of NL Adviseurs outlined the most important elements.

Articles 1-3: objective, scope and definitions
The law requires Member States to actively restore nature. It also establishes definitions, which Hamelink considers important because sectors often use different terminology.

Article 4: land, coastal and freshwater ecosystems
Restoration of habitat types that are in poor condition. The law sets progressively stricter targets for 2030, 2040 and 2050.

Articles 6 and 7: energy and defence
Provide scope for exemptions, for example for offshore wind farms or defence sites, subject to conditions.

Article 8: urban nature
The most directly relevant article for municipalities. It concerns urban green space and tree canopy cover. Until 2030, there must be no net loss compared with 2024 levels; thereafter, an upward trend is required.

Article 9: river connectivity
Member States must identify barriers in water systems and remove them where possible. The European target is 25,000 kilometres of free-flowing rivers.

Article 10: pollinators
The decline of pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies, must be halted. Recovery will then be monitored.

Article 13: trees
Targets relating to tree planting and strengthening tree populations, relevant in combination with urban green space and canopy cover.

Articles 14 and 15: national restoration plan
Member States must prepare a national restoration plan. The Netherlands must submit a draft by September 2026. By September 2027, there should be greater clarity on how implementation will take shape.

This article was previously published on June 3, 2026 on the website of Stad + Groen.

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