Vortragender:  Stijn Van Onsem (INBO – Research Institute for Nature and Forest)

In Belgium, biodiversity monitoring is mostly a regional responsibility. We provide a general overview of monitoring institutions, strategies, programmes and methodologies in Flanders, one of three regions in Belgium. The Flemish Region is a densely populated, low-land area with fragmented, yet valuable natural resources. Status and trends of species, communities and habitats protected under the Birds, Habitats and Water Framework Directives are being evaluated using large-scale and long-term monitoring programmes, while complementary, smaller-scale monitoring projects provide insights into ecosystem functioning and the efficiency of nature management. Invasive alien species are surveyed using tailored approaches based on the species’ ecology and distribution. In Flanders, citizen science and open science play an important role in biodiversity monitoring. Several institutions, including the Research Institute for Nature and Forest, experiment with innovative techniques and technologies, to increase our monitoring capabilities in a rapidly changing environment. Finally, we discuss international collaboration and harmonization initiatives – important aspects of ecological monitoring in a relatively small region.