Some of the island populations are morphologically quite distinct, although the taxonomic significance of this is not yet clear (e.g. Krystufek 2004a, 2004b). Some of these island populations are rare and perhaps threatened.

Beech Marten is categorised as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, its large population, its occurrence in many protected areas, its abundance in anthropogenic habitats over large parts of its range, and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing even as Near Threatened.

Beech Marten occurs through much of Europe and central Asia south-east to northern Myanmar. It is found from Spain and Portugal in the west (Muñoz et al. 2007), through central and southern Europe (Mitchell-Jones et al. 1999), the Middle East (south-west to Israel, from where Werner [2012] traced no records from the southern portion), and central Asia, extending as far east as the Tuva (Russia) and Tien Shan mountains and north-west China (Wang et al. 2003, A.V. Abramov pers. comm. 2014). In Europe, it is absent from Ireland, Great Britain, the Scandinavian peninsula, Finland, the northern Baltic and northern European Russia. At the end of 20th century the species extended in European Russia as far as Moscow province in the north and across the Volga River in the east (Abramov et al., 2006). Along the Himalaya it occurs in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan; it was recently found in northern Myanmar (Rabinowitz and Saw Tun Khaing 1998). The species was introduced to Ibiza, Balearic Islands (Spain) but it failed. It was also introduced to Wisconsin, U.S.A. (Long 1995).

The species has ben recorded from sea level to 2,000 m in Israel (Werner 2012), from the lowlands to 3,400 m in Kazakhstan, and to 4,200 m in Nepal. In India, it has been found above 1,300 m (Choudhury 2013) up to 3,950 m (Sathyakumar et al. 2011).

Beech Marten is common in at least parts of its range (Macdonald and Barrett 1993). Populations in western and central Europe have increased since the 1960s and 1970s. It is recolonising areas in the Netherlands from which it had disappeared. It seems to be relatively stable in Israel (Werner 2012).

Beech Marten prefers more open areas than do other martens (Sachhi and Meriggi 1995). Its habitat preferences vary in different parts of its range. It is typically found in deciduous forest, forest edge, and open rocky hillsides (sometimes above the tree line). However, in Switzerland, north-east France, Luxembourg and southern Germany, it is very common in suburban and urban areas, often building its nest in house attics, outhouses, barns, garages, or even in motor-car engine spaces. In some areas it is common in towns and rare in woods. Commensal Beech Martens may cause damage to roofs, insulation, and electrical wiring and pipes in houses and motor-cars. In some parts of its range, it seems to avoid urban areas: in Israel, it is more associated with woodland than with urban or cultivated areas, a pattern apparently typical in Mediterranean ecosystems (Werner 2012).

Beech Marten is sometimes persecuted as a pest. Rabies may be a problem in some portions of the species's range. In China, it is Key Listed at level 2. The species is hunted for its fur in countries such as India and Russia. However, there is no evidence that these potential threats are intensive enough to be causing declines across significant parts of the species's range.

The species is hunted for its fur in various countries such as India and Russia.

Beech Marten is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention. It occurs in many protected areas. The Indian population is listed in Appendix III of CITES, as Martes foina intermedia. Further legislation and enforcement of existing legislation regarding hunting is warranted in some areas. Research to establish a scientific basis for a sustainable harvest level is also recommended.