European Union Environment Ministers have approved a conservation law intended to restore habitats to their natural condition.

The purpose of the Nature Restoration Law is to regrow forests, re-wet moors and return rivers to their natural, free-flowing states.

Ministers for 20 EU member states voted in favour, representing 66 per cent of the population. The conservation law sets a target for the EU to restore at least 20 per cent of the bloc’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.