Restoring the Habitats Directive? A legal analysis on how the Nature Restoration Regulation would address the current forest biodiversity protection in the EU

Abstract

Forests and their biodiversity are degrading both globally and in the EU. Although the EU is committed to reverse biodiversity loss, the EU legal system is facing the challenge of meeting both international and EU commitments. The current legislation protecting forest biodiversity is concentrated in the Habitats and Birds Directives. The Nature Restoration Regulation is a new development in the EU, which aims to contribute to the reversal of biodiversity loss. This thesis aims to analyse the current EU legal system protecting forest biodiversity and its weaknesses using the legal doctrinal method. Furthermore, the Nature Restoration Regulation is analysed in light of the weaknesses of the current legislation. Finally, this thesis aims to evaluate the added value the Nature Restoration Regulation would bring to the current EU legislation protecting forest biodiversity.