At the European policy level there is demand for an international framework for surveillance and monitoring of biodiversity, indicating the growing need to quantify biodiversity composition and dynamics at large spatial and temporal scales to bridge the gap between international commitments and national and local actions, and to ensure that biodiversity monitoring and responses to biodiversity change are incorporated effectively into policy and practice at international, national and local levels. This report presents the results of the EBONE project on how such framework can be met effectively. It draws conclusions on sampling design, time management and sampling effectiveness.