1 Objective of performance

The aim of the service is to carry out a complete sample monitoring in accordance with the monitoring plans of the federal or state and to complete the coverage of the field hamster (Cricetus cricetus, Annex IV of the Habitats Directive) in Saxony-Anhalt. Both serve as a basis for assessing its conservation status in accordance with the FFH Directive. For this purpose, the corresponding data must be collected in the field and evaluated according to uniform criteria.

2 lots

The entire service is divided into two lots:

- Lot 1 includes the complete run of the sampling of the European hamster (federal and state monitoring)

- Lot 2 includes the completion of the coverage of the range of the European hamster

The following execution deadline applies to partial service 1.1 - First Interim Report Lot 1: 01.11.2024

For partial performance 1.2 - Second Interim Report Lot 1 - the following execution deadline applies: 29.03.2025

The following execution deadline applies to partial service 1.3 - final report Lot 1: 01.11.2025

For partial performance 2.1 - First Interim Report Lot 2 - the following execution deadline applies: 01.11.2024

For partial performance 2.2 - Second Interim Report Lot 2 - the following execution deadline applies: 29.03.2025

For partial service 2.3 - final report lot 2 - the following execution deadline applies: 01.11.2025

1. General methodology, scope and time frame

The methodological specifications for data collection and evaluation are based on the state-wide monitoring concept for FFH animal species (see Appendix 1a, including the new assessment scheme for federal monitoring according to BfN (2017) in Table 2). The requirements set out there must be complied with. Deviations are only possible for compelling technical reasons and only in agreement with the client (client).

The study areas processed in ÖKOTOP (2010, 2014, 2019) are to be used for federal monitoring.

In principle, the aim is to achieve the highest degree of comparability with the previous studies and their presentation in the reports.

The mapping work in the monitoring cycle is spread over 2 consecutive years. The terrain surveys are to be carried out in the study years 2024 and 2025. Each monitoring area must be completed once. The following proportion of the work to be carried out within the overall output is to be aimed for the years:

2024: approx. 50% of the collection work

2025: approx. 50% of the collection work

Variations with regard to the annual slices are possible in the amount of up to 10%.

The data collected in 2024 are to be evaluated and presented in the first interim report (due in 2024) and in the second interim report (due in 2025). The data collected in 2025 are to be evaluated and presented in the final report (due in 2025) (see partial services in accordance with section 3.3).

2. Recording work, including preparatory work

2.1 Selection of specific study areas

The specific study areas for the Federal Monitoring have already been determined (see ÖKOTOP 2010, 2014, 2019).

The contractor (contractor) shall determine the specific areas to be examined for land monitoring in the field within the monitoring areas designated in the monitoring concept or within the respective area pool. The corresponding selection criteria must be documented on an area-by-area basis (arable field). The relevant usage parameters in the year under investigation or .dem previous year must be documented.

With regard to the specific study areas to be determined within the area pool, a narrower pre-selection of suitable fields may first have to be made. At the time of the site inspections for hamster population mapping after harvesting, the binding selection takes place. In this way, it is possible to react flexibly to imponderables regarding the harvest date, which is not absolutely certain. If the existing area pool proves to be insufficient, it must be expanded if possible in coordination with the client.

Any necessary consultations must be carried out with the farmers concerned and, if necessary, agreement must be reached with the farmers. A general local announcement of mapping and monitoring work by or on behalf of the LAU was made at the level of the municipalities (https://lau.sachsen-anhalt.de/fileadmin/Bibliothek/Politik_und_Verwaltung/MLU/LAU/Naturschutz/Natura2000/Kartierung_und_Bewertung/Bekanntmachung_von_Kartierungen_des_LAU_2021-2025.pdf).

2.2 Assessment of population and habitat parameters

The Contractor shall carry out the collection of population and habitat-related parameters in accordance with the Monitoring Concept for FFH Animal Species Saxony-Anhalt (see Appendix 1a). For the areas of federal monitoring, the requirements of the current assessment scheme for the European hamster according to BfN (2017, Table 2) are to be applied. The models in Appendix 1b and Appendix 1c also illustrate the parameters to be collected or evaluated.

2.3 Assessment of conservation status

The Contractor shall carry out the collection of population and habitat-related parameters in accordance with the Monitoring Concept for FFH Animal Species Saxony-Anhalt (see Appendix 1a). For the areas of federal monitoring, the requirements of the current assessment scheme for the European hamster according to BfN (2017, Table 2) are to be applied. The samples in Appendix 1b and Appendix 1c also illustrate the parameters to be evaluated.

2.4 Dateneingaben

The Conduct submits the collected and researched data. The requirements specified in point 3.3.2 must be observed, in particular the samples in Annexes 1b, 1c and 1d must be observed. The aim is to achieve the greatest possible comparability of the presentations with previous reports (see sources).

3. Reports and partial deliverables

3.1 Partial services

The contractor shall prepare written reports in which the required information is presented in complete context.

The interim and final reports on Lot 1 are each considered to be part of the work:

- Partial performance 1.1: First interim report

Sub-performance 1.1 contains the pro rata evaluation and presentation of the results of the terrain surveys for the year 2024. The aim is to achieve a share of approx. 30% of the monitoring areas to be worked on.

- Sub-performance 1.2: Second interim report

Sub-performance 1.2 contains the pro rata evaluation and presentation of the results of the terrain surveys for the year 2024. The aim is to achieve a share of approx. 20% of the monitoring areas to be worked on.

- Partial service 1.3: Final report

Sub-performance 1.3 contains the evaluation and presentation of the results of the terrain surveys of the year 2025 as well as cross-year aspects and nationwide overall representations of the monitoring run.

The service units contained in the interim reports should be usable independently in terms of content. In particular, this means that sub-services 1.1 and 1.2 should contain the completed investigations/evaluations of the monitoring areas concerned. Evaluation results that are valid throughout the country are to be summarised in partial performance 1.3 (final report).

The contents of the interim reports are to be fully integrated into the final report in order to achieve a coherent overall presentation of the overall performance.

3.2 Report format, documentation and data storage

The aim should be to achieve maximum comparability with previous reports.

The reports are structured as follows:

introduction

Methodology and study areas

Results and evaluation in federal monitoring

Results and evaluation in state monitoring

Implications for the assessment of the national conservation status of the European hamster

Summary

Literature

systems, consisting of:

- For the clear presentation of the examination and evaluation results of the monitoring areas of the state monitoring or areas of the federal monitoring, data collection forms are to be used largely based on the models in Annex 1b and Annex 1c. If necessary, the content must be adapted to current evaluation schemes (BfN 2017) (MS Word format and pdf).

- Data tables according to the model in Appendix 1d (MS Excel format and pdf). All the parameters specified in these tables shall be indicated.

The table (mapping results of all fields committed) according to the model in Appendix 1d contains the precise location coordinates of all individual proven hamster burrows or suspected cases, including the associated measured values and construction parameters.

- Maps of crops of the areas studied (pdf format)

- Overview maps (pdf format)

- Digitized topographic data of the study areas (ESRI-shapefile format)

- Database of all records of the European hamster on the study areas as a multibase CS file. In this case, the verification data must be summarized in relation to the respective fields including the associated building density (burrows/ha).

- Digital photos incl. spatial and temporal assignment to study areas

The reports shall be delivered in a single copy. The reports must be accompanied by all collected data and evaluation results as well as the text part, illustrations and photos in file form on data carriers (text part: MS Word format, unless otherwise specified above). In addition, a pdf file must be created that contains all report contents.

1. General methodology, scope and time frame

The distribution of the European hamster is to be recorded in the form of the occupancy of 10 x 10 km grid fields (RF) of the European Environment Agency (EEA grid) within the state of Saxony-Anhalt (see Appendix 1e, Fig. 3). For this purpose, representative surveys must be carried out in particularly suitable habitats of the grid fields concerned.

The field investigations are carried out in RF where a European hamster colonization is not sufficiently reliably proven by recent evidence (past and current FFH reporting period, data from 2018 onwards).

The following RF's are to be processed on their share of Saxony-Anhalt's land area (see Appendix 1f, Fig. 4):

10 RF:

10kmE447N311, 10kmE446N312, 10kmE447N312, 10kmE445N313, 10kmE446N313, 10kmE447N313, 10kmE446N314, 10kmE447N314, 10kmE446N315, 10kmE447N316

The above-mentioned number of RF is to be used as the basis for calculation for the preparation of the offer. The calculation is based on an average expected mapping effort (working hours) for a complete RF (10x10 km). It must be taken into account that RF cut at the national border and large-scale non-arable RF (e.g. cities, opencast mines, forests) should only be examined proportionately with reduced mapping area.

The number of RF actually processed in the course of fulfilling the order can both fall below and exceed the above figures. It depends, among other things, on whether or how quickly the terrain captures lead to evidence and thus to grid field occupancy; if necessary, the cost-neutral processing of additional RF must be coordinated with the client if the specified RF is fully processed at an early stage.

Should new evidence become known from other sources during contract processing (from 2018) that sufficiently demonstrate the presence of the field hamster, the relevant RF must not be processed in the field and must be changed cost-neutrally in coordination with the client. It should be borne in mind that, in particular as contract processing progresses, a change of individual RF to be processed is naturally to be expected.

The mapping of the given RF in the field is to be carried out in the investigation years 2024 and 2025. The aim is to achieve the following scope of work to be carried out over the years:

2024: approx. 35% of the collection work

2025: approx. 65% of the collection work

Variations with regard to the annual slices are possible in the amount of up to 10%.

2. Recording work, including preparatory work

2.1 Selection of suitable study areas and determination of specific mapping times

The terrain surveys are carried out on arable land that is particularly suitable for hamster colonization (favorable soil conditions, cultivation crop: predominantly winter wheat).

The concretely processed fields are to be selected by the AN (soil conditions, crops, required logistical effort). The probability of hamster detection should be maximized as far as possible. Possible concrete recording periods (mapping times) for the areas (mappability depending on land management and season or hamster activity) must be defined by the AN.

2.2 Field mapping work

The terrain is mainly recorded in the summer after harvest, before the harvested areas have been changed, as transect fine mapping of the burrows to the extent of at least 20% according to the “Querfurt method” (analogous methodology as in sample monitoring). In addition, spring mapping is possible on suitable areas.

Approximately 5-10 areas with a total size of a maximum of 400 ha are sampled per RF (corresponds to 80 ha of transect fine mapping at 20% recording intensity). If 1-2 secure proof of presence (populated areas) have already been provided with fewer areas, the switch to a new RF takes place. If no evidence has been provided after complete mapping of the above-mentioned area, the recording in the relevant RF is discontinued and started in a new RF.

In those RF, which are only partially located in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, only a proportionate area size is mapped off-road.

2.3 Dateneingaben

The Conduct submits the collected and researched data. The requirements of point 4.3.2 must be complied with.

3. Reports and partial deliverables

3.1 Partial services

The contractor shall prepare written reports in which the required information is presented in complete context.

- Interim and final reports on Lot 2 shall each be deemed to be a partial service:

- Partial performance 2.1: First interim report

- Sub-performance 2.1 contains the pro rata evaluation and presentation of the results of the terrain surveys for the year 2024. The aim is to achieve a share of approx. 10% of the grid fields to be processed.

- Sub-performance 2.2: Second interim report

Sub-performance 2.2 contains the pro rata evaluation and presentation of the results of the terrain surveys for the year 2024. The aim is to achieve a share of approx. 25% of the grid fields to be processed.

- Partial performance 2.3: Final report

Sub-performance 2.3 contains the evaluation and presentation of the results of the terrain surveys of the year 2025 as well as cross-year aspects.

The service units contained in the interim reports should be usable independently in terms of content. In particular, this means that sub-services 2.1 and 2.2 (interim reports) should contain largely completed investigations/evaluations of grid fields. Evaluation results valid nationwide or for the entire study area are to be summarized in partial performance 2.3 (final report).

The contents of the interim reports must be fully integrated into the final report in order to achieve a coherent overall presentation.

3.2 Report format, documentation and data storage

The reports are structured as follows:

introduction

Methodology and study areas

Results incl. comparison with previous state of knowledge, incl. cartographic representations of the grid fields and study areas

Summary

Literature

digital attachments (file form):

- Tabular field-related presentation of inventory and usage data as well as mapping results, degree of recording and evaluation (MS Excel format)

The contractor documents the following parameters, among others, for each machined area/field:

Create (GIS)

terrain

Anbaukultur

Field size and proportion of mapped area

Time of terrain survey

Performers

Hamster detection/construction group:

Coordinates

Assessment of the construction type

- Digitized topographic data of all study areas (ESRI-shapefiles format)

- Complete species database as MultibaseCS database

- Printout of the database contents in clear tabular form

- Digital photos incl. spatial and temporal assignment to study areas

- Overview maps (pdf format)

- Database of all records of the European hamster on the study areas as a MultibaseCS file. In this case, the verification data must be summarized in relation to the respective fields including the associated building density (burrows/ha).

- Digital photos incl. spatial and temporal assignment to study areas