Europe

Abstract

The scientific community has a long list of requirements for monitoring. Long-term continuous data records of high quality are needed with good documentation, many auxiliary data, and often much more. Thus, special characteristics of the networks may be of interest to them. In general, observations are made by volunteers interested in nature, in special networks (Slovakia) or special stations (Germany, IPGs), or by experts. In the IPGs, observations are made on 3 specimens of each clone, whereas national networks’ rules describe how the observing area is defined and how the specimens have to be chosen in the near surroundings of a phenological station. Constant specimen and locations are desired, however only in Slovenia forest trees, shrubs, fruit trees, and vines are they permanently marked. All networks possess paper forms to note observations (even the new established networks in the UK and in the Netherlands do not want to exclude “offline” recorders and developed forms). The requested frequency of submitting forms differs between once a year to weekly, and event-based information immediately.