The EU Nature Restoration Regulation as an opportunity for kelp forest conservation and restoration in Europe

Kelp forests are among the most productive and biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, yet they are currently facing unprecedented degradation and decline. In Europe, the conservation of these key ecosystems has historically relied on a plethora of disconnected national policies and passive protection, and they have frequently been underrepresented in governance frameworks. The recent adoption of the European Union Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) represents a transformative shift, establishing the first legally binding targets for large-scale conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems shared by European Union members.

Here, we discuss the challenges and opportunities that the NRR presents for European kelp forests and associated ecosystem services across Europe. As the NRR sets ambitious mandates for mapping habitats, condition assessments, and restoration by 2030-2050, its success depends on overcoming existing data gaps as well as on financial and technical challenges. We highlight how the NRR provides a valuable instrument to initiate immediate action across regions, and we propose a set of priority actions to achieve the NRR targets and address current scientific gaps.

We emphasize the need for transboundary harmonization of monitoring protocols and methods for establishing reference areas for healthy kelp forests, the development of high-resolution maps for habitat distribution and condition, the establishment of clear-cut criteria for identifying resilient restoration areas (i.e., priority sites capable of achieving and maintaining favourable conservation status under NRR targets), and the development of standardized condition indicators (e.g., canopy density, indicator species) to assess "good condition" across different ecoregions. By linking legal requirements with science-based strategies, the NRR provides an opportunity to finally integrate kelp forests into European marine governance and achieve long-term sustainability for these critical ecosystems.