Rewilding and the EU Nature Restoration Law: Plotting the Course of Ecosystem Restoration in Europe

Abstract ‘Rewilding’ is a form of nature restoration that prioritizes natural processes and the autonomous functioning of ecosystems over specific outcomes in terms of species composition and abundance. The relationship between rewilding and legal instruments for biodiversity conservation is a variable one. This article focuses on the EU Nature Restoration Law (Regulation 2024/1991) adopted in 2024. It asks to what extent the Regulation changes the legal landscape for rewilding in Europe, in which the Birds and Habitats Directive have been, and continue to be, dominant features. The article explores the Nature Restoration Law’s objectives, general obligations, and specific provisions concerning forests, rivers, pollinators, and oceans, while also addressing the Regulation’s relevance for the restoration of missing species in ecosystems. The analysis shows that the Nature Restoration Law has notably increased the opportunities for rewilding, both in Natura 2000 sites and beyond.