The SpongeBoost project proudly celebrates the landmark adoption of the EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL), marking a significant step towards reversing biodiversity loss and rejuvenating Europe's degraded ecosystems. This pioneering legislation, endorsed by EU Member States, heralds a new era in environmental policy. By revitalising and restoring ecosystems, it enhances existing conservation efforts within EU legislation, offering a proactive and inclusive approach that fosters collaboration across various sectors and societal actors.

The NRL aims to improve essential ecosystem services such as water purification, flood regulation, and carbon sequestration, substantially contributing to climate resilience and the overall well-being of European citizens. 

The NRL is projected to create between 180,000 and 207,000 jobs through the comprehensive implementation of the Natura 2000 network (Source: PLOS ONE). Restoration activities have demonstrated high benefit-cost ratios, with coastal wetlands, for example, providing benefits up to 110 times the investment cost (Source: OECD iLibrary). Additionally, the employment multipliers for restoration activities range from 1.5 to 3.8, emphasizing significant job creation potential (Source: PLOS ONE).

In terms of cost-saving, natural floodplains offer sustainable and long-term benefits that are more cost-effective than engineered flood defences. Moreover, the global restoration of 350 million hectares of degraded forests could yield benefits valued at USD 7-30 for every dollar invested (Verdone and Seidl, 2017).