All official European Union website addresses are in the europa.eu domain.
See all EU institutions and bodies
An official website of the European Union | How do you know?
Environmental information systems
The Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) Reference Portal includes a comprehensive set of guidelines, explanatory notes, reference data and other materials to assist with the development and implementation of the National Restoration Plans. This is a living page which will be updated regularly with new content. Further information on the NRR objectives, targets and timeline are available in the European Commission NRR webpage.
New available content:
03.10.2025
29.09.2025
Browse by topics:
National Restoration Plans
Uniform format
Title | Description |
|---|---|
Uniform format for National Restoration Plans, all language versions: | The uniform format is a comprehensive planning support tool, set up to closely follow the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 on nature restoration, while supporting Member States in the implementation phase and allowing for comparability across Member States. |
(New) Overview of the structure of the draft NRP format and an explanation of its content. (Updated: 29.09.2025) | |
(New) Material that aims to facilitate the preparation by Member States of their draft NRP and support its future submission through Reportnet 3. It includes data models, reference data, extended templates, and instructions. (Updated: 29.09.2025) | |
(New) The typology of measures is used in Part C of the uniform format for national restoration plans. The typology includes types of restoration measures and other measures aimed at avoiding deterioration or supporting measures. (Updated: 29.09.2025) | |
(New) The typology of ecosystems is used in the national restoration plan (NRP) for structuring the financial information, for the information on measures as well as in the section on the habitats of species (terrestrial only). (Updated: 03.10.2025)
| |
Technical background notes | Expected in autumn/winter 2025 |
Material related to specific targets of the Nature Restoration Regulation
Cross cutting guidance
Title | Description |
|---|---|
Compilation of existing guidance on ecosystem restoration - Publications Office of the EU | Reference document for EU Member States to inform the development of national restoration plans |
Article 4 - Restoration of terrestrial, coastal and freshwater ecosystems
Title | Description |
|---|---|
Guidelines on Concepts and Definitions Article 17 of Directive 92/43/EEC Reporting period 2019–2024
| Guidance on Favourable Reference Values (RFVs). Habitats: page 69 – 76 |
Contains some info on how to fill in Favourable Reference Values (RFVs). |
Article 5 - Restoration of marine ecosystems
Title | Description |
|---|---|
Manual for marine EUNIS habitats listed in Annex II NRR | Expected in summer 2025 |
Guidelines on Concepts and Definitions Article 17 of Directive 92/43/EEC Reporting period 2019–2024 | Guidance on Favourable Reference Values (RFVs). Species: page 20 – 32 Habitats: page 69 – 76 |
Guidance on the establishment of conservation measures under the Common Fisheries Policy. | |
Guidance on Natura 2000 and fisheries | Expected in summer 2025 |
FAQ on the links between the Birds, Habitats, Marine Strategy Framework Directives and the NRR | Expected in summer 2025 |
Article 8 - Urban ecosystems - Restoration of urban ecosystems
Title | Description |
|---|---|
Methodological support on datasets to be used under Article 8 of the Nature Restoration Regulation | Informal discussion document – to be regularly updated. |
Supporting towns and cities in restoring nature and biodiversity. Includes links to the guidance for developing and Urban Nature Plan. |
Article 9 - Restoration of the natural connectivity of rivers and natural functions of the related floodplains
Title | Description |
|---|---|
Criteria for identifying free-flowing river stretches for the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 | JRC publication (2024) |
Guidance on Barrier Removal for River Restoration-Directorate-General for Environment |
Article 10 - Restoration of pollinator populations
Title | Description |
|---|---|
Delegated act on monitoring methods | Expected in autumn 2025 |
Article 11 - Restoration of agricultural ecosystems
Title | Description |
|---|---|
High-Diversity Landscape Features: Guidance on a framework for developing methodologies to monitor high-diversity landscape features pursuant to Art 14(7) of the NRR. | |
European Monitoring of Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes (EMBAL) | High-Diversity Landscape Features: EMBAL documentation |
Article 12 - Restoration of forest ecosystems
Title | Description |
|---|---|
Guidelines on Land-based wild-fire prevention (2021)
| Principles and experiences on managing landscapes, forests and woodlands for safety and resilience in Europe. |
Article 13 - Planting three billion additional trees
Title | Description |
|---|---|
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT The 3 Billion Tree Planting Pledge For 2030 |
Other supporting material
Title | Description |
|---|---|
Improving the availability of data and information on species, habitats and sites | Guidance on the application of existing scientific approaches, methods, tools and knowledge for a better implementation of the Birds and Habitat Directives. |
Scientific support for successful implementation of the Natura 2000 network | Guidance on the application of existing scientific approaches, methods, tools and knowledge for a better implementation of the Birds and Habitat Directives. |
Financing Natura 2000 – EU funding opportunities in 2021-2027 | European Commission: Directorate-General for Environment, Financing Natura 2000 – EU funding opportunities in 2021-2027 – Revised report May 2022, Publications Office of the European Union, 2022. |
European Commission: Directorate-General for Environment, Find your EU funding programme for the environment – Supporting the environment under the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework and NextGenerationEU, Publications Office of the European Union, 2022. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions on the National Restoration Regulation implementation?
Helpdesk
Send us your questions about guidelines or data.