A device for acoustic monitoring of a monitoring area, comprising: a first sensor system comprising a first acoustic sensor, a first processor, and first transmission means, which system may be mounted at a first location (129 1 -129 n) of the monitoring area; a second sensor system comprising a second acoustic sensor, a second processor, and second transmission means, which system may be mounted at a second location (139 1, 139 2) of the monitoring area that is different from the first location (129 1 -129 n), wherein the first processor is configured to classify a first audio signal (142, 142a, 142b) detected by the first acoustic sensor so as to obtain a first classification result (128 1 -128 n), wherein the second processor is configured to classify a second audio signal (144, 144a, 144b) detected by the second acoustic sensor so as to obtain a second classification result (138 1, 138 2), wherein the first transmission means is configured to transmit the first classification result (128 1 -128 n) to a central evaluation means, wherein the second transmission means is configured to transmit the second classification result (138 1, 138 2) to the central evaluation means, of the central evaluation means, the central evaluation means being configured to receive the first classification result (128 1 -128 n) and to receive the second classification result (138 1, 138 2), and to generate a monitoring output for the monitoring area as a function of the first classification result (128 1 -128 n) and the second classification result (138 1, 138 2), characterized in that the first transmission means is configured to transmit a first signal to the central evaluation means only if the first classification result (128 1 -128 n) matches a first predetermined classification result; the second transmission means is configured to transmit a second signal to the central evaluation means only if the second classification result (138 1, 138 2) matches a second predetermined classification result; and the central evaluation means is configured to count, on the basis of the first signal, how many times, per time interval, the first sensor system has determined the first predetermined classification result, or to count, on the basis of the second signal, how many times, per time interval, the second sensor system has determined the second predetermined classification result. a first sensor system comprising a first acoustic sensor, a first processor, and first transmission means, which system may be mounted at a first location (129 1 -129 n) of the monitoring area; a second sensor system comprising a second acoustic sensor, a second processor, and second transmission means, which system may be mounted at a second location (139 1, 139 2) of the monitoring area that is different from the first location (129 1 -129 n), wherein the first processor is configured to classify a first audio signal (142, 142a, 142b) detected by the first acoustic sensor so as to obtain a first classification result (128 1 -128 n), wherein the second processor is configured to classify a second audio signal (144, 144a, 144b) detected by the second acoustic sensor so as to obtain a second classification result (138 1, 138 2), wherein the first transmission means is configured to transmit the first classification result (128 1 -128 n) to a central evaluation means, wherein the second transmission means is configured to transmit the second classification result (138 1, 138 2) to the central evaluation means, of the central evaluation means, the central evaluation means being configured to receive the first classification result (128 1 -128 n) and to receive the second classification result (138 1, 138 2), and to generate a monitoring output for the monitoring area as a function of the first classification result (128 1 -128 n) and the second classification result (138 1, 138 2), characterized in that the first transmission means is configured to transmit a first signal to the central evaluation means only if the first classification result (128 1 -128 n) matches a first predetermined classification result; the second transmission means is configured to transmit a second signal to the central evaluation means only if the second classification result (138 1, 138 2) matches a second predetermined classification result; and the central evaluation means is configured to count, on the basis of the first signal, how many times, per time interval, the first sensor system has determined the first predetermined classification result, or to count, on the basis of the second signal, how many times, per time interval, the second sensor system has determined the second predetermined classification result.