The European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC), representing the national science academies of EU Member States, has published a scientific commentary concluding that the full implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation constitutes a cost-effective strategic investment in Europe’s security, economic resilience and ecological stability.
According to EASAC’s commentary Opportunities in Nature Restoration, restoring Europe’s degraded ecosystems would cost an estimated 150 billion euros, while generating benefits at least ten times higher. Restoration reduces damages caused by climate extremes, improves public health, strengthens food and water security, and enhances society’s resilience to floods, droughts and wildfires.
“Nature restoration is not an environmental luxury but a core element of risk management,” says Professor Thomas Elmqvist, Director of EASAC’s Environment Programme and lead author of the commentary. “At a time when Europe is spending billions responding to climate extremes and their health impacts, restoring ecosystems is among the most cost-effective preventive investments we can make.”
Key measures for restoring ecosystem functions
The degradation of nature increases Europe’s exposure to climate and economic risks. Only a small fraction of Europe’s forests remain untouched, and human pressures extend across almost all land areas. This is directly linked to rising flood damage, declining soil fertility, weakening forest carbon sinks, and increasing wildfire risk.
The commentary highlights three priority ecosystems where restoration delivers rapid and substantial benefits: agricultural landscapes, forests, and peatlands.
In agricultural landscapes, regenerative agriculture can rebuild soil organic matter, enhance biodiversity, strengthen water retention, and improve climate resilience while sustaining long-term productivity.
In forests, close-to-nature silviculture reduces wildfire risk, strengthens carbon sinks, and improves structural and biological diversity.
In peatlands, rewetting drained areas reduces greenhouse gas emissions, restores carbon sequestration capacity, and improves water regulation.
Policy recommendations
EASAC warns that weakening or delaying implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation would increase Europe’s vulnerability to climate extremes, economic losses, and adverse health impacts. The commentary sets out three key policy directions for EU decision-makers.
First, nature must be recognised and financed as a strategic asset. Europe’s natural capital — soils, forests, peatlands, freshwater systems and marine ecosystems — underpins carbon storage, water regulation, biodiversity, and food and energy security. These ecosystem services must be systematically measured, valued and financed as public goods.
Second, nature restoration requires cross-sectoral policy coherence and effective governance. Restoration cannot be delivered in isolation but must be aligned with agriculture, forestry, water management, energy policy, maritime spatial planning and urban planning. Clear mandates, accountability and institutional coordination are essential.
Third, preventive restoration must be mainstreamed. Investing ahead of crisis is the most cost-effective way to reduce disaster risks, protect critical resources, safeguard economic stability from climate extremes, and strengthen Europe’s resilience and strategic autonomy.
Read the full commentary here: Opportunities in Nature Restoration
The European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC) is a cooperation organization of European science academies. The Council of Finnish Academies (CoFA) is a national member of EASAC.