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for urban or industrial development, disturbances or pollution due to residential, commercial, industrial or recreational infrastructure. Includes also pressures related to sport, tourism and leisure activities and infrastructure. G Extraction and cultivation of biological living resources (other than agriculture and forestry) Includes pressures linked to uses of biological resources other than agriculture and forestry. H Military action, public safety measures, and other human intrusions Includes pressures related to public safety and other human intrusions. I Invasive and problematic species Includes pressures related to problematic inter-specific relationships with non-native species which cannot be associated with other pressure categories. Includes also problematic relationships with native species, which came out of balance due to human activities. J Mixed source pollution Includes pollution which cannot be associated with other pressure categories. K Human-induced changes in hydraulic conditions Includes hydrological and physical modifications of water bodies, which cannot be associated with other pressures categories. L Natural processes (excluding catastrophes and processes induced by human activity or climate change) Includes natural processes, such as natural succession, competition, trophic interaction and erosion. M Geological events, natural catastrophes Includes pressures such as natural fires, storms and tsunamis. N Climate change Includes pressures related to climate change.

7European Monitoring of Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes (EMBAL)

      European Monitoring of Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes (EMBAL) is a rapid approach based on an in situ survey of plots with a size of 500 m × 500 m (25 ha). This plot size yields an optimum ratio between survey effort and detailedness, and effectively represents an agricultural landscape. The development of this survey is part of the monitoring activities coordinated by the European Commission (DG Environment).

      The survey aims at recording information on characteristics of agricultural land in each plot, and namely on grassland, cropland and landscape elements. The survey is carried out during optimum vegetation conditions (peak of the growing season). Land cover is mapped, including landscape elements, surveyed parameters include the description of the site (e.g. habitat coding, type of land cover), cropland (e.g. coverage of crops, wild plants, bare soil, number of flowering forbs, key species list) and grasslands (parameters harmonized with LUCAS Grasslands protocol). A nature value is assigned to all mapped elements.

      Four 20 m transects are walked, with an observation frame of 1.25 m to the left and 1.25 m to the right of the surveyor. During the transect walks, the surveyors will record the presence of potential key plant species given in a list as well as information on the structure of the fields. This information will serve as an additional qualification of the land-use intensity, which is estimated in the main sheet for each parcel and as biodiversity record which enables further data interpretation.

      The parameters are to be assessed in the field and deliver results at the area level (area and types of land cover/landscape elements, change in landscape structure, nature values for the types of land cover/landscape elements, area per EUNIS habitat type etc.) and at the transect level (coverage of wild plants in arable land, number of key species in grassland, arable land and fallow land, species composition, flower density etc. and respective changes in these parameters). As in the case of the LUCAS grassland survey, training of field surveyors is of utmost importance for ensuring data quality.

      EMBAL is set to be the first large-scale survey to provide information on biodiversity values in arable land and a detailed mapping and identification of landscape elements. It is also set to be the first survey applying the landscape approach. By including as well the qualitative estimate of the natural value of the area, once the survey is established and repeated it will provide evidence of the trajectory of evolution of agricultural landscapes with regard to some aspects of biodiversity (increase or decrease), as shown by previous experiences on which the survey is based (IFAB, 2017; Hünig and Benzler, 2017). The EMBAL methodology¹⁴was piloted in 2020, and is going to be fine-tuned as necessary. The pilot is also used for testing potential integration of soil sampling into the EMBAL framework. Sampling squares are aligned with the LUCAS grid. Overall, the two surveys are harmonized, and complement each other in depicting the state of biodiversity in agricultural areas.

8Alien species

      ‘Alien species’ are defined as live specimens of a species, subspecies or lower taxon of animals, plants, fungi or micro-organisms introduced outside their natural range, including any part, gametes, seeds, eggs or propagules of such species, as well as any hybrids, varieties or breeds that might survive and subsequently reproduce¹⁵.

      Alien species causing damage to agriculture are harmful organisms (insects, mites, nematodes, bacteria, parasitic plants, fungi, viruses and virus-like organisms) regulated under the European phytosanitary legislation, and stem from Council Directive 2000/29/EC¹⁶and related decisions laying down emergency or control measures for specific pests and diseases under this specific remit (e.g. Xylella fastidiosa, Dryocosmus kuriphilus, Anoplophora chinensis and A. glabripennis). This Directive has been repealed by Regulation (EU) 2016/2031¹⁷, whose requirements entered into force on 14 December 2019. The compulsory monitoring for agriculture-related alien species (open field crops, nurseries, and greenhouses) is laid down in technical annexes and must be implemented by official controls performed by Member States National Plant Protection Organizations. Producers are subject to specific obligations in relation to the health of their crops, and shall immediately notify the responsible official body of the Member State concerned of any unusual occurrence of harmful organisms, symptoms or any other plant abnormality, and collaborate with official authorities. Official surveillance and systematic inspections are conducted at the place of production in the most appropriate periods considering the organisms’ biology, supplemented by laboratory analysis. The organization of the phytosanitary surveillance and organisms involved varies and reflects Member States’ administrative organization.

      Invasive Alien Species (IAS) constitute one of the most important threats to biodiversity, causing worldwide severe ecological and socio-economic impacts. Target 2.2.10 of the the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (EC, 2020) puts particular effort on addressing invasive alien species (IAS) and the protection of native biodiversity. Recognizing the need for a coordinated set of actions to prevent, control and mitigate IAS impact, the European Parliament and the Council adopted the EU Regulation 1143/2014 (the IAS Regulation), which gives priority to a list of species, named as IAS of Union concern, selected by scientific and legislative bodies after an evaluation procedure and the analysis of specific pest risk assessments. Species are included in this list, among others, because they can cause a significant damage to biodiversity justifying the adoption of dedicated measures at Union level. Three Implementing Commission Regulations¹⁸have listed 66 alien species (30 animals and 36 plants) as of Union concern by 2019, which are affecting terrestrial, freshwaters and marine (2 species) environments. Under the IAS Regulation, EU Member States competent authorities must prevent the introduction and spread of IAS of Union concern, enforce effective early detection and rapid eradication mechanisms for new introductions

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