The EU Nature Restoration Regulation promotes ecosystem recovery, involving sustainable livestock farming as a key ally in the ecological transition.

The Nature Restoration Regulation, approved about a year ago, is the first EU regulation that sets binding targets for the restoration of degraded ecosystems, particularly those with the greatest capacity to absorb carbon and prevent natural disasters. It is part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy and responds to the alarming state of nature in Europe, where more than 80% of habitats are in poor condition. Restoring wetlands, forests, grasslands, rivers, and marine ecosystems means not only protecting biodiversity but also safeguarding essential ecosystem services such as water purification, pollination, and flood protection. This regulation also contributes to European resilience and the fight against climate change.

Agricultural and livestock farming activities are directly involved: while they have historically contributed to ecosystem pressure, today they can become part of the solution. Regenerative and sustainable livestock farming can help maintain rural landscapes, preserve grasslands, and support the carbon cycle through smart management of pastures and manure. In this sense, the regulation offers an opportunity to rethink production models, rewarding those that integrate environmental, economic, and social goals.

At the heart of this regulation lie deep reflections on nature, the human role in ecosystems, sustainability, and ecological and democratic literacy. The text embraces an evolutionary and dynamic view of nature: not a fixed entity or an ideal model to blindly imitate, but a system in constant transformation. It calls for moving beyond an anthropocentric perspective, reimagining humans — and with them, livestock farmers — as “positive ecosystem engineers“, capable of co-evolving with the environment. Livestock farming, if properly oriented, can support this co-evolution, contributing to the common good.

The regulation is innovative and scientifically grounded, but without real political, economic, and educational commitment, it risks remaining ineffective. Involving the livestock sector in an educational and transformative process will also be essential. Educating decision-makers is necessary not only to protect biodiversity but also to safeguard rural communities — and, regrettably, today such education seems necessary even to secure the future of democracies.

Source: Newsletter EAAP n. 278