Biodiversity and ecosystem service assessment in terrestrial habitats

Abstract

Terrestrial ecosystems represent some of the most extensive and human-influenced systems on Earth, playing a fundamental role in maintaining biodiversity, regulating ecological processes, and providing vital services to human societies. Assessing biodiversity and ecosystem services in terrestrial habitats is essential for understanding ecological dynamics, supporting conservation, and informing sustainable land-use policies. In this paper, we explored the theoretical underpinnings of biodiversity-ecosystem service relationships, reviewed methodological approaches for mapping and assessment, and presented selected case studies from Europe, South America, and Asia. The case studies highlighted the use of integrated frameworks such as the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES), expert-based ecosystem service supply matrices, and spatial modeling techniques. By examining how biodiversity loss and land-use changes affect service delivery, we demonstrated the importance of linking ecological knowledge with socioeconomic needs. We argue that advancing interdisciplinary, spatially explicit approaches to ecosystem assessment is critical for addressing global challenges such as climate change, habitat degradation, and sustainable development.

Keywords

biodiversity / terrestrial ecosystems / MAES / ecosystem condition / land-use change / nature-based solutions / spatial modeling

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