14 
 
develop an Integrated Nutrient Management Action Plan in 2022. The Farm  to Fork 
strategy will address the reduction in the use and risk of pesticides and support wider 
implementation of Integrated Pest Management 54. As part of this, the environmental 
risk assessment of pesticides will be strengthened . The pressure from plastics is 
notably addressed through the implementation of the European Strategy for Plastics55 and 
the new Circular Economy Action Plan56.  
The Commission will develop a  set of indicators for the progressive reduction of 
pollution, and will establish baselines to help monitor progress. Pressures from marine 
litter and underwater noise are being addressed under the Marine Strategy Framework 
Directive. 
2.2.10. Addressing invasive alien species 
Invasive alien species can significantly undermine efforts to protect and restore nature. 
Besides inflicting major damage to nature and the economy, many invasive alien specie s 
also facilitate the outbreak and spread of infectious diseases, posing a threat to humans 
and wildlife57. The rate of release of invasive alien species has increased in recent years. 
Of the 1,872 species now considered threatened in Europe, 354 are under threat from 
invasive alien species. Without effective control measures, the rate of invasion and the 
risks it brings to our nature and health will continue to rise.  
The implementation of the EU Invasive Alien Species Regulation 58 and other relevant 
legislation and international agreements must also be stepped up . This should aim to 
minimise, and where possible eliminate, the introduction and establishment of alien 
species in the EU environment. The aim will be to manage established invasive alien 
species and decrease the number of Red List species they threaten by 50%59. 
EU Nature Restoration Plan: key commitments by 2030 
1. Legally binding EU nature  restoration targets to be proposed in 2021, subject to an 
impact assessment.  By 2030, significant areas of degrad ed and carbon -rich 
ecosystems are restored;  habitats and species show no deterioration in conservation 
trends and status ; and at least 30% reach favourable conservation status  or at least 
show a positive trend. 
2. The decline in pollinators is reversed. 
3. The risk and use of chemical pesticides is reduced by 50% and the use of more 
hazardous pesticides is reduced by 50%. 
4. At least 10% of agricultural area is under high-diversity landscape features. 
5. At least 25% of agricultural land is under organic farming  management, and the 
uptake of agro-ecological practices is significantly increased. 
6. Three billion new trees are planted in the EU, in full respect of ecological principles. 
7. Significant progress has been made in the remediation of contaminated soil sites. 
8. At least 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers are restored.  
                                                 
54  Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (2009/128/EC). 
55  European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy (COM(2018) 28). 
56  A new Circular Economy Action Plan for a cleaner and more competitive Europe  (COM(2020) 98). 
57  See for example: Hulme P. (2014). Invasive species challenge the global response to emerging diseases, 
Trends in parasitology (2014) Vol. 30, Issue 6; Duscher et al. (2017).  
58  Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on invasive alien species. 
59  Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).