The European Union's Biodiversity Strategy 2020 aims to restore at least 15% of degraded ecosystems by 2020, in accordance with the 2010 Aichi targets. With these due for review later this year, we are deeply concerned about Europe's lack of progress towards meeting its own target. In our view, EU member states need to engage properly in the repair of their damaged ecosystems.

All member states failed to honour their commitment to deliver a sound national restoration prioritization framework by the end of 2014, an initiative intended to improve the quality, scale and consistency of ecosystem restoration. This was profoundly disappointing, given the poor state of the environment in large parts of Europe and the need to develop resilience against climate change.

We urge the European Commission and member states to rectify this potentially costly inaction. Ecosystem restoration must be fully integrated into EU and national policies and land-use planning. Fact-based guidelines and regulations should be issued and standards set up for evaluation and progress. Provision of additional earmarked funds is essential to boost cost-effective restoration.

Countries with a robust restoration plan and confirmed restoration efforts could be rewarded with access to further EU funding. It is also important to publicize the benefits of restoration for social well-being.