EU countries approve landmark nature restoration law after delays

Eamon Ryan said the large-scale restoration of nature has the potential to provide additional income streams for farmers, foresters, fishers and other landowners

Countries including the Netherlands had raised concerns the policy would slow the expansion of wind farms and other economic activities, while Poland on Monday said the policy lacked a plan for how nature protection would be funded. File Picture: iStock

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has described the approval of the historic nature restoration law as "a huge opportunity to rebalance our ecosystems", saying it could provide additional income streams for farmers.

It comes as European Union countries approved a flagship policy to restore damaged nature on Monday, after months of delay, making it the first green law to pass since European Parliament elections this month.