Soil Biodiversity

Silver

Index value (unitless), representing biodiversity richness or functional potential (e.g., low, medium, high).

Visualizes global distributions of soil biodiversity, including microbial richness, invertebrate abundance, and ecosystem function hotspots. Developed by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative, these maps synthesize scientific datasets and expert models to illustrate where soil life is most diverse and under the greatest threat. They support understanding of soil ecological health, land degradation, and conservation priorities.

The Atlas compiles and models data from thousands of global observations and research studies on soil organisms and functions. Spatial layers integrate multiple indicators — such as species richness, biomass, and functional diversity of bacteria, fungi, and invertebrates — combined with environmental covariates like climate, land use, and vegetation. Maps are produced at 1 km or coarser resolution to represent global trends, not local measurements.