Key data
| Regulation | Correction of Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 on nature restoration |
|---|---|
| Publication | May 13, 2026 |
| Entry into force | Not specified in the correction |
| Affected parties | Agricultural, forestry, fishing sectors, urban developers and public administrations |
| Category | European Regulation |
| Binding objective | Restore at least 20% of EU terrestrial and marine areas by 2030 |
| Original regulation | Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 24 June 2024 |
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and urban development have a concrete deadline: by 2030, at least 20% of EU terrestrial and marine areas must be in the process of restoration. That is the mandate of the Regulation (EU) 2024/1991, approved on June 24, 2024, and the correction published on May 13, 2026 does not change that objective one bit.
What this correction does is remedy material, technical or drafting errors detected in the original text. The regulatory substance remains intact. But its publication is a reminder that the regulation is in force and that the affected sectors must be adapting their activities now.
What does this regulation establish?
Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 establishes binding objectives for recovering degraded ecosystems in the Member States of the European Union. It is not a recommendation or a guideline: it is an obligation with direct legal force.
The central objective is that by 2030, restoration of at least 20% of EU terrestrial and marine areas that are in a degraded state will have been initiated. This implies that Member States, including Spain, must identify those areas, plan their recovery and integrate the requirements into their national and regional regulatory frameworks.
The correction published on May 13, 2026 rectifies technical or drafting inaccuracies in the original text. It does not introduce new obligations or modify deadlines. Its practical relevance is to confirm the final and corrected version of the regulation, which is what companies and administrations should use as a reference in their adaptation processes.
The regulation also amends Regulation (EU) 2022/869, although available data do not detail the specific scope of that amendment beyond the reference in the official title.
Economic and operational impact
The impact is not homogeneous: it depends on the sector and the degree of overlap of the activity with degraded or protected ecosystems. But there are concrete operational consequences that should already be on the radar of any company in the affected sectors.
- Agricultural sector: Farms located in areas identified as ecosystems to be restored may see certain practices limited or be forced to adopt methods compatible with recovery objectives. This can translate into land use restrictions, changes in irrigation systems or limitations on the use of certain inputs.
- Forestry sector: Forestry companies will have to adapt their forest management plans to restoration objectives, especially in areas where extractive activity has degraded the ecosystem.
- Fishing sector: Restoration of marine ecosystems may involve fishing bans, fishing ground restrictions or changes in catch quotas in certain areas declared as priorities for recovery.
- Urban developers: Development projects on land that affects degraded ecosystems subject to restoration may encounter obstacles in obtaining licenses or be forced to include broader compensatory measures.
- Public administrations: Must incorporate the regulation's requirements into their territorial and environmental planning plans, which directly affects environmental impact assessment procedures and urban planning.
Who does it affect?
- Agricultural companies and agricultural cooperatives with operations in areas potentially subject to restoration.
- Forestry companies and forest management operating in degraded ecosystems or in recovery process.
- Fishing and aquaculture companies operating in marine areas identified for restoration.
- Developers and construction companies with urban development projects on land that may overlap with priority restoration areas.
- Regional and local public administrations responsible for territorial and environmental planning in Spain.
- Environmental and engineering consultancies that prepare environmental impact studies or management plans for the above sectors.
- CFOs and operations directors of companies in the mentioned sectors, who must anticipate adaptation costs and possible operational restrictions.
Practical example
A real estate developer that plans to develop a residential project in a coastal area of Andalusia must verify whether the affected land is included in the terrestrial or marine areas identified by Spain to meet the 20% restoration objective by 2030.
If the land overlaps with an area declared as a priority for restoration of degraded ecosystems, the company may find that the regional administration, when incorporating the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 into its territorial planning plan, denies the license or requires broader compensatory measures than those initially planned in the project.
This scenario is not hypothetical: it is exactly the type of situation the regulation seeks to create to stop further ecosystem degradation and force its recovery. Anticipation in environmental due diligence of projects is, in this context, a direct lever for reducing economic risk.
What should companies do now?
- Identify if the activity is carried out in potentially affected areas: Review whether agricultural, forestry, fishing operations or urban development projects are located in ecosystems that may be declared as priorities for restoration in the national and regional plans that Spain must prepare.
- Monitor regional territorial and environmental planning plans: Spanish administrations are obligated to incorporate the regulation's requirements into their plans. Closely following updates to these plans is key to anticipating operational restrictions.
- Incorporate environmental regulatory risk into project due diligence: Especially for urban developers and companies with expansion projects, evaluate the regulation's impact before committing investments in land or fishing grounds potentially affected.
- Review forest and fishing management plans: Adapt management plans to the 20% restoration objectives by 2030, identifying possible conflicts and anticipating corrective measures.
- Consult the corrected version of the regulation: Given that the May 2026 correction remedies technical and drafting errors, it is the version that should be used as the definitive regulatory reference for any compliance analysis.
Frequently asked questions
What does EU Regulation 2024/1991 on nature restoration require?
It requires Member States to restore at least 20% of EU terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. It directly affects sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fishing and urban development, which must adapt their activities to meet these objectives.
What is the difference between the original regulation and the May 2026 correction?
The correction does not change the objectives or obligations. It rectifies technical, material or drafting errors in the original text. The binding nature of the 20% restoration target by 2030 remains unchanged.
What happens if a company's activity overlaps with a restoration area?
The company may face operational restrictions, license denials, or be required to implement compensatory measures. The specific impact depends on the sector, the type of activity and the degree of overlap with the identified restoration area.
Who is responsible for identifying restoration areas in Spain?
Spanish public administrations, at both national and regional levels, are responsible for identifying and planning the restoration of the 20% of areas required by the regulation. These areas will be incorporated into territorial and environmental planning plans.
When must companies start adapting to this regulation?
Now. Although the deadline for achieving the 20% restoration is 2030, companies should begin assessing their exposure to the regulation and adapting their operations and projects immediately, as regional planning plans are being updated to incorporate these requirements.
Official source
Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 24 June 2024, on nature restoration, as corrected by the correction published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 13 May 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The interpretation and application of EU Regulation 2024/1991 may vary depending on national and regional implementation in Spain. Companies should consult with legal and environmental specialists to assess their specific situation and compliance obligations. The information contained herein is based on the regulation as published and corrected as of May 13, 2026, and may be subject to further updates or clarifications by the European Commission or Spanish authorities.