# Commission Regulation (EC) No 1737/2006 of 7 November 2006 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 2152/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning monitoring of forests and environmental interactions in the Community, Division II.1: Sampling design

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

Two different sampling designs may be used, which either lead to a more qualitative or to a more quantitative characterization:
in the first case, the dynamics are assessed by monitoring changes in the species composition over a large area, utilizing sampling units greater than 100 m2, with a low to medium accuracy in estimates of changes in cover for each of these species,
in the second case, the study concentrates on population dynamics (expansion or regression) on a smaller area. Small sampling units (in general fewer than 10 m2) are used for a more accurate estimation of species cover.
The area selected for vegetation assessment shall be representative for the plot, in order to allow the comparison with other parameters recorded on the same plot. Several sampling units shall be used in order to obtain statistical replication.
According to phytosociological usage, the minimal requirement is to map the species at the plot level. In order to achieve comparability of results between countries, a common sampling area (CSA) of 400 m2, representative for the ground vegetation of the Level II plot, is mandatory. This area can be reached as the sum of smaller sub-plots within the Level II plot area. Data shall be submitted for the total CSA area, not per sub plot (aggregated data). Member States shall keep the results of separate sub-plots in their national databases.
Countries are free to select the number and shape of the sampling units.
If sampling units are not contiguous, they shall be placed as far apart as possible within the Level II plot or in its buffer zone in order to minimize spatial correlation between the sampling units within a plot. They shall also exclude major heterogeneities at any scale of sampling (boulders and cliffs, tracks and paths, fire places, streams and ponds, ditches and channels, peaty pools).
A permanent marking system has to be installed for the sampling units.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2006/1737/annex/I/chapter/8/division/II/division/II.1 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2006-1737/annex-I/chapter-8/division-II/division-II.1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.