This document sets out Natural England’s view on favourable conservation status for seagrass beds in England.
Favourable conservation status is the situation when the habitat can be regarded as thriving in England and is expected to continue to thrive sustainably in the future. The definition is based on the available evidence on the ecology of seagrass beds. Favourable conservation status is defined in terms of three parameters: natural range and distribution; extent; structure and function attributes (habitat quality).
A summary definition of favourable conservation status in England follows. Section 1 of this document describes the habitat and its ecosystem context, Section 2 the units used to define favourable conservation status and Section 3 describes the evidence considered when defining favourable conservation status for each of the three parameters. Section 4 sets out the conclusions on favourable values for each of the three parameters.
This document does not include any action planning, or describe actions, to achieve or maintain favourable conservation status. These will be presented separately, for example within strategy documents.
The guidance document EIN062 Defining Favourable Conservation Status in England describes the Natural England approach to defining favourable conservation status.