The loss of biodiversity is steadily increasing. According to the European Environment Agency, 81% of European habitats are in poor or inadequate condition. Species extinction is also advancing, and entire ecosystems are being damaged or destroyed. The reasons for this are the destruction of habitats, the exploitation of species, climate change and increasing pollution of the natural environment.

Given the disastrous situation, there is no time to postpone biodiversity protection any further or even abandon it altogether. Humans depend on ecosystem services such as climate protection and food security. Against this backdrop, agriculture, forestry and fisheries will also benefit in the long term from good habitats, good soil and water quality, and healthy pollinator populations.

Insofar as the provisions of the NRL are presented as disproportionate burdens, it is worth taking a look at the NRL itself. It does not prescribe specific restoration measures (such as exclusion from use) or specify specific areas for restoration. Furthermore, the NRL does not even require concrete restoration results to be achieved by a certain date. Instead, the NRL merely requires that restoration measures be taken at all.