Favourable Conservation Status (FCS)

According to the EU Habitats Directive,

Conservation status of a natural habitat means the sum of the influences acting on a natural habitat and its typical species that may affect its long term natural distribution, structure and functions as well as the long term survival of its typical species within the territory referred to in Article 2.

The conservation status of a natural habitat will be taken as 'favourable' when:

• its natural range and the areas it covers within that range are stable or increasing, and
• the specific structure and functions which are necessary for its long term maintenance exist and are likely to continue to exist for the foreseeable future, and
• the conservation status of typical species is favourable as defined in [Article] 1(i).

  Conservation status of a species means the sum of the influences acting on the species concerned that may affect the long-term natural distribution and abundance of its populations within the territory referred to in Article 2;

  The conservation status will be taken as 'favourable' when:

• population dynamics data on the species concerned indicate that it is maintaining itself on a long term basis as a viable component of its natural habitats, and
• the natural range of the species is neither being reduced nor is likely to be reduced for the foreseeable future, and
• there is, and will probably continue to be, a sufficiently large habitat to maintain its populations on a long term basis

  Guidance from the European Commission^{1 indicates that the Directive intends FCS to be applied at the level of an individual site, as well as to habitats and species across their European range. Therefore, in order to properly express the aims of the Habitats Directive for an individual site, the conservation objectives for a site are essentially to maintain (or restore) the habitats and species of the site at (or to) FCS.}

  ---

  ^{1 . European Commission (2000). Managing Natura 2000 sites: the provisions of Article 6 of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. DGXI, Brussels, p.18. (http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/legis.htm})