Ecosystem Monitoring and Insect Monitoring were developed by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN). Both programmes rely on a network of nationally representative sample plots established in 2004, covering the full spectrum of site conditions typical of Germany.

The major advantage: instead of collecting data across all parts of Germany, monitoring is concentrated on these selected plots. This allows reliable, nationwide conclusions to be drawn with significantly lower effort and cost. In addition to the regular monitoring of common breeding birds, these sample plots also host monitoring for the High Nature Value Farmland (HNV) indicator – an obligatory indicator for the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) second-pillar programmes. By spatially integrating different monitoring activities, data from various programmes can be combined, generating insights that go beyond the original research questions.

Ecosystem Monitoring was developed by the BfN within research and development projects. It systematically, repeatedly, and comprehensively collects data on the condition and trends of habitats across nationally representative sample plots. This enables targeted assessments of changes in habitat types across the landscape – from salt meadows and raised bogs to bramble scrub and beech forests.

The programme consists of a core set of 1,000 sample plots selected by the Federal Statistical Office using a stratified sampling design for breeding bird monitoring. In addition, federal states may expand their sampling through an extended set of 2,637 plots, enabling statistically robust statements at state level.

On 23 August 2024, the administrative agreement between the federal government and the federal states on the joint financing of nationwide Ecosystem Monitoring was adopted. By the end of 2026, six federal states will have acceded to the agreement – marking the start of the practical implementation of Ecosystem Monitoring. The BfN is currently in discussion with four additional federal states. In the longer term, this could result in a significant proportion of sampling sites being included in the monitoring scheme.

Ecosystem Monitoring closes a significant knowledge gap regarding the condition and development of habitats across the wider landscape.

The nationwide Insect Monitoring (IM) programme records both common and rare insect species across Germany in a standardised, systematic, and regular manner. Its aim is to provide, for the first time, nationally representative data on the long-term development of Germany’s insect fauna. Since 2018, the conceptual framework for the programme has been developed by the BfN through a series of research and development projects. In close cooperation with the specialized authorities of the federal states, a methods manual has been produced, describing the overall monitoring framework and the standardised survey methods for the initial modules of the minimum programme.

Like Ecosystem Monitoring, Insect Monitoring is based on a network of nationally representative sampling sites that reflect the diversity of environmental conditions across Germany. The data collected provide robust evidence on the status and long-term changes in insect populations and form the basis for further analyses, including evaluations of the effectiveness of insect conservation measures and programmes.

Under the Administrative Agreement between the Federal Government and the Federal States on the Joint Financing of the Nationwide Insect Monitoring Programme (Administrative Agreement IM), the Federal Government contributes to the implementation costs incurred by the federal states. Federal co-financing will commence in 2026 and currently covers the following monitoring modules:

• 1A: Butterflies and Burnet Moths at the landscape scale
• 1B: Grasshoppers in grasslands

The success of the nationwide Insect Monitoring programme depends on the broad participation of the federal states. The more states that implement the monitoring modules, the more robust and representative the national assessments of insect population trends will become. Insect Monitoring is therefore a joint initiative of the Federal Government and the federal states, providing a reliable evidence base for insect conservation in Germany.