More nature reserves are needed here — on public land as well as privately-owned property, says ecologist Pádraic Fogarty

The proposals include targets for the restoration and rewetting of drained peatlands.

Farmers are fearful of proposed EU environment laws, European commissioner for financial stability Mairead McGuinness has said, but they are “crucial” to restore nature.

The ‘Sixth Mass Extinction’ that we are now facing is predicted to lead to the loss of half of all plant and animal species by the end of the century — but allocating 30% of the earth's area for nature restoration could be the start of our chance to avert widespread ecosystem breakdown