Nature Restoration Regulation (EU2024/1991) came into force in August 2024

The Regulation is the first continent-wide, comprehensive law of its kind, and sets binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems, in particular those with the most potential to capture and store carbon and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters.

The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) have been appointed by Government to coordinate the development of a national Nature Restoration Plan (NRP) arising from the Regulation, to be submitted to the EU Commission by 1 September 2026. 

Preliminary work is already underway and an Independent Advisory Committee has been established to advise on the developments and the contents of the NRP. The Committee will be supported by technical thematic working groups and a Stakeholder Participation Programme.

The programme will contain two key elements; a Leaders’ Forum and Community Conversations.

The Leaders’ Forum will be a cross-sectoral dialogue at the most senior level, to discuss the overall trajectory of the NRP and identify key risks and opportunities. It will see senior leadership of all stakeholder groups invited to participate in  exchanges of views and progress briefings. The Leaders Forum will be convened in the Spring of 2025 and discussions from the forum will feed directly to the Independent Advisory Committee. Further follow-up Leaders’ Forums will be held throughout 2025.

The Community Conversations will be a locally-led, participatory engagement model that aims to inform and hear the views of groups and individuals around the country. This will provide opportunities at all levels for genuine exploration and dialogue and to create a country-wide conversation about what EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL) means for all citizens.