Speaker: Dr. Stefan Schindler (Environment Agency Austria)

Austria is subject to various national and international mandates that require regular biodiversity monitoring and reporting. While many of these activities are explicitly defined, some allow for interpretation regarding implementation, methodology, and spatial or temporal resolution. Despite a long history of monitoring in Austria, current efforts often lack formal coordination and do not always align perfectly with policy obligations. A qualitative analysis comparing mandated versus existing monitoring activities shows that while most requirements are covered, significant discrepancies exist in pollinator monitoring. Currently, some pollinator groups are "over-monitored" using fragmented methodologies that do not meet the upcoming European Pollinators Monitoring Scheme (EU PoMS) standards. Additionally, several existing high-value monitoring programs, though not strictly mandated, provide critical long-term data for understanding national biodiversity trends. To create a more efficient monitoring concept, we suggest: (a) central coordination of all activities, (b) harmonizing methodologies while maintaining data continuity, (c) continued funding for non-mandated but valuable time series, and (d) linking biodiversity data with pressure and driver monitoring to better evaluate Trends.