1. Conservation objectives: The favourable conservation status-
Main legal instruments: Habitats and Birds Directives
EC, DG Environment, Nature & Biodiversity

2. EU Nature Conservation Objectives Habitats Directive objectives (Article 2)
… to contribute towards ensuring bio-diversity through the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora in the EU
….maintain or restore, at favourable conservation status, natural habitats and species of wild fauna and flora of Community interest.

3. Favourable Conservation Status (FCS)
Habitats Directive, 92/43/EEC:
objective for all habitats and species of community interest (Article 2): …maintain and restore a “favorable” status
Birds Directive, 79/409/EEC:
concept not named as such but the objective for bird species (Article 2) is similar

4. Definition of conservation status Article 1 of Habitats Directive
for a 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
for species
…means the sum of the influences acting on the species concerned that may affect the long-term distribution and abundance of its populations

5. When is reached a Favorable Conservation Status?
Natural habitat:
When natural range and areas covered is stable or increasing
When specific structures and functions necessary exist and are likely to exist for the foreseeable future
When typical species are in Favorable Conservation Status
Species:
population dynamics - viable over the long-term
natural range not reduced
sufficiently large habitat

6. Favorable Conservation Status is a target for…
All habitats types listed in Annex I
All species listed in Annex II, Annex IV and Annex V
all bird species
FCS :
Is not restricted to Natura 2000 sites
Various instruments to reach a FCS objective

7. Examples: Favourable Conservation Status is a key concept used when…
A decision is to be taken in relation to management measures: e.g.: number of seals specimens may be considered as a population target ensuring a favourable conservation of Status
Analysing whether a project inside a Natura 2000 area is to be approved. Significant disturbance?
Assessing the acceptability of derogations. FCS ensured?

8. Needs to develop a common understanding on definitions about
Viable Population dynamics
Specific structures and functions of ecosystems
Natural range areas …

9. Involving understanding and information
Seeking agreement on
Information requirements (information from inside and outside the Natura 2000 network)
Common approaches & standards for gathered information (comparability-compatibility, level of scale and detail, etc.)

10. Existing discussion fora
Regular meetings of the Scientific Working Groups created under Habitats Committee and Ornis Committee with participation of Member States, Stakeholders and the Commission.
Creation of a external discussion forum CIRCA – an extranet tool

11. Favourable Conservation Status is a key concept in the definition of the Nature Conservation Directives