This report comprises a review and update of the England Ecosystem Survey (EES) sampling framework for years 1 and 2 by consolidating the fundamental survey design and subsequent decisions and limitations.
The general approach chosen is to first sample monads (1km British National Grid squares), and then to sub-sample within each of the selected monads. The monad sample is composed of a stratified randomized sample (stratified by ITE Land Class) and an Inclusion Probability sample (which only selects monads containing pre-determined rare classes and prefers monads containing more of these classes).
Within each monad, the sub-sampling approach is to randomly sample, in eligible land, four points, then to target two points to rare Priority Habitats from the Priority Habitat Inventory. A series of nested plots is constructed around each of these points.