Bringing Nature back into Cities - Urban ecosystems restoration in the international and EU legal biodiversity frameworks

Abstract

Biodiversity is declining globally, and traditional conservation methods have proven insufficient. Ecosystems restoration is imperative, also in urban areas. This thesis underscores the existence of an international trend toward establishing frameworks for urban ecosystems restoration. Various initiatives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Decade for Ecosystems Restoration, highlight the need for urban biodiversity restoration, though current treaties lack robust restoration obligations. The recent Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, negotiated under the CBD, includes a target on urban green spaces, but it is non-binding and its implementation framework lacks compliance mechanisms. In the EU, the Green Infrastructure Strategy and the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy emphasize urban ecosystems restoration, but the Nature Directives do not address restoration in urban areas. The proposed Nature Restoration Law seeks to address these gaps with binding targets and a strong implementation framework, although its effectiveness has been weakened in negotiations. Despite progress, significant challenges remain.