A global map of terrestrial habitat types

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Geographic Information Systems

Background:

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) habitat classification scheme is crucial for ecological analyses, including Area of Habitat (AoH) quantification.
• Accurate, spatially explicit global habitat data is essential for large-scale ecological research and conservation efforts.
• Existing habitat data may lack the resolution or scope required for comprehensive global assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a novel, global, spatially explicit map of 47 terrestrial habitat types based on the IUCN classification scheme for the year 2015.
• To provide a foundational dataset for refining Area of Habitat calculations and supporting broad-scale ecological studies.
• To enhance the accuracy and scope of data available for future IUCN Red List assessments.

Main Methods:

• Developed a global decision tree model integrating contemporary global datasets on land cover, climate, and land use.
• Generated a habitat map for 2015 encompassing 47 distinct terrestrial habitat types.
• Independently validated the habitat map using occurrence data from 828 vertebrate species and 6026 sampling sites.

Main Results:

• The study produced a global habitat map characterizing 47 terrestrial habitat types.
• Independent validation demonstrated an average balanced accuracy of 0.77 (Level 1) and 0.71 (Level 2).
• The map provides a significant advancement in understanding global habitat distribution and characteristics.

Conclusions:

• The new global habitat map offers a valuable resource for ecological research and conservation planning.
• This dataset will facilitate more accurate Area of Habitat estimations and support IUCN Red List assessments.
• Planned periodic updates will ensure the map remains current with advancements in data availability.