이 글은 2021년 개정 「자연환경보전법」에 따른 자연환경복원제도의 주요내용을 분석하고, 자연환경복원 관련법제에 대하여 종래부터 지적되어 온 문제점과 한계에 비추어 개정법상의 자연환경복원제도가 갖는 의의와 한계를 진단하고, 앞으로의 입법과제를 제시하고 있다.
개정법이 종래의 자연환경복원 관련 법제가 가진 여러 문제점을 인식하고 이를 극복하기 위한 일정한 제도적 장치를 도입하였다는 점에서 진일보한 것으로 평가할 수 있으나, 종래부터 지적되어 오던 문제점 가운데 다수가 여전히 해소되고 있지 못하다. 유럽집행위원회가 얼마 전 제안한 자연복원에 관한 규칙안을 비롯하여 주요 외국의 입법동향을 주시하면서, 앞으로 지속적으로 그 문제점과 한계를 극복하기 위한 입법적 노력을 게을리해서는 안 될 것이다.
첫째, ‘자연환경복원사업’이 아니라 ‘자연환경복원’ 또는 ‘생태계복원’ 그 자체의 개념을 법적으로 정의하여야 한다. 둘째, 자연환경복원의 기본원칙은 환경부는 물론 범부처를 횡단하는 것이어야 할 것이며, 제도적으로 구현될 수 있어야 한다. 셋째, 산림, 습지, 호소, 하천, 해양 등 모든 생태계는 유기적으로 연결되어 있음을 고려하여 통합적인 자연환경복원이 이루어질 수 있는 제도적 기반을 구축하여야 한다. 넷째, 자연환경복원사업계획의 수립, 사업의 시행, 유지・관리 등 각 단계에 걸쳐서 절차적 통제뿐만 아니라 복원의 목표, 기준, 절차, 전문인력 등에 관한 실체적 통제가 가능하여야 한다. 다섯째, 국가, 지방자치단체뿐만 아니라 지역주민, 시민단체, 전문가, 토지소유자 등이 자연환경복원사업계획의 수립, 사업 시행은 물론 사업 완료 후의 유지・관리 단계에 이르기까지 전 과정에 걸쳐 참여할 수 있는 협력적 거버넌스 체계를 구축하여야 한다. 여섯째, 기금의 설치 등 자연환경복원사업에 소요되는 재원확보수단을 강구하여야 하며, 자연환경복원사업의 시행이나 사후관리 과정에서 발생할 수 있는 재산권 제한, 토지의 수용이나 사용 및 그에 대한 손실보상 등에 관한 법적 근거도 마련되어야 할 것이다.
이들 입법과제를 제대로 풀어나가기 위해서는 「자연환경보전법」을 지속적으로 발전시켜 나가는 방안 외에도, 가칭 ‘자연환경복원법’과 같은 부처횡단적인 단일법 제정을 위한 입법전략을 지속적으로 모색하고 함께 고민하여야 할 것이다.
The Revised Natural Environment Conservation Act of 2021 introduced provisions regarding the natural environment restoration project, including its definition, preparation of priority list, establishment and approval of the natural environment restoration project plan, recommendation and cost support, and so on. This article analyzes its main contents, examines its legal significance and limitations, and suggests several legislative alternatives.
First, the Act introduced restoration of the structure and function of the natural environment as a key element of the term “Natural Environment Restoration Project.” However, there is a limitation, which is that it is only valid for projects implemented under the Act. The Act excludes projects implemented by other agencies under other Acts from the scope of “Natural Environment Restoration Project.” The legal definition of “Natural Environment Restoration” or “Ecological Restoration” should be provided by law.
Second, the basic principles are only applicable to the “Natural Environment Restoration Project” implemented or recommended by the Minister of Environment under the act. The principles should be set up to be applicable to all types of ecological restoration projects, regardless of the department in charge.
Third, the natural environment subject to restoration is a mixture of various types of ecosystems and landscapes. Natural environment restoration embraces forest restoration, wetland restoration, lake restoration, river restoration, landscape restoration, and so on. Ecological restoration projects are currently implemented under the auspices of individual acts, each of which applies to only one type of ecosystem, such as rivers, wetlands, and forests. This must be a considerable obstacle to the effective promotion of ecological restoration. Integrated approach should be introduced.
Fourth, although the Natural Environment Conservation Act, which has relatively more provisions regarding ecological restoration, addresses some procedures of ecological restoration, including the establishment and approval of the natural environment restoration project, details such as the criteria for approval are unclear, and compliance with the procedure is not legally enforced but rather subject to a recommendation or a cost support requirement. Substantive requirements for setting the strategy, method, and criteria should be developed and adopted. The qualification requirements for those conducting ecological restoration projects should be incorporated into law so that persons with ecological expertise in characteristics of the ecosystem in question can participate in each stage of the project.
Fifth, a top-down approach from national or local governments without the cooperation of other stakeholders has legal and practical limitations. The wider participation of various stakeholders, including local communities, NGOs, and experts, is necessary from the planning stage to the post-management stage of an ecological restoration project. Institutional mechanisms should be established to ensure the participation of various stakeholders, such as by establishing a committee or entering into voluntary agreements with community residents or landowners.
Sixth, local governments face financial issues when promoting ecological restoration projects alone. The establishment of a fund to restore damaged ecosystems should be taken into account. In order to support ecological restoration projects, some of which may need to be initiated urgently and others of which may be long-term schemes, a stable financial ground and flexible management of the fund are indispensable. Moreover, the Act should be revised so that the project operator can acquire or use the lands necessary for the implementation of an ecological restoration project and justly compensate the landowners for their loss.
Amending the current laws, each of which focuses on a different type of ecosystem, poses difficulties in terms of incorporating the improvements and controlling ecological restoration projects, especially in cases where the person responsible for the environmental damage is unknown.
The alternative is to enact a new act that comprehensively and systematically governs all stages of ecological restoration projects, from planning to post-restoration, as well as participatory decision-making processes and financial mechanisms.