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. Four federal states have already signed the agreement and will begin implementation in 2026. The BfN is currently in discussion with six additional states, enabling coverage of a very substantial share of the sample plots.

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

The nationwide Insect Monitoring programme aims to record both common and rare insect species in a standardised, systematic, and regular manner. These data provide robust insights into the status and trends of insect fauna and allow the effectiveness of conservation measures to be assessed.

The administrative agreement for Insect Monitoring is currently being finalised at the federal level. The guiding principle remains that the federal government will cover 50 % of the monitoring costs incurred by the federal states. Once finalised, the agreement will be coordinated with the federal states. The administrative procedure will follow the same model as the agreement for Ecosystem Monitoring.