The ability of a habitat, community or individual (or individual colony) of species to redress damage sustained as a result of an external factor.
Recoverability is only applicable if and when the impacting factor has been removed or has stopped. Ranks also only refer to the recoverability potential of a species, based on their reproductive biology etc.
Rank | Definition (from Hiscock et al., 1999) |
---|---|
None | Recovery is not possible |
Very low / none | Partial recovery is only likely to occur after about 10 years and full recovery may take over 25 years or never occur. |
Low | Only partial recovery is likely within 10 years and full recovery is likely to take up to 25 years. |
Moderate | Only partial recovery is likely within 5 years and full recovery is likely to take up to 10 years. |
High | Full recovery will occur but will take many months (or more likely years) but should be complete within about five years. |
Very high | Full recovery is likely within a few weeks or at most 6 months. |
Immediate | Recovery immediate or within a few days. |
Not relevant | For when intolerance is not relevant or cannot be assessed. Recoverability cannot have a value if there is no "intolerance" and is thus "Not relevant". |
Insufficient information | Insufficient information |