Challenges and ways forward for implementing essential biodiversity and ecosystem service variables in Asia

Challenges and ways forward for implementing essential biodiversity and ecosystem service variables in Asia | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Ecological Research This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 12 May 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Challenges and ways forward for implementing essential biodiversity and ecosystem service variables in Asia Authors : Yayoi Takeuchi 0000-0002-8402-7854 [email protected] , Jamie Kass 0000-0002-9432-895X [email protected] , Lea Végh 0000-0001-7948-480X [email protected] , Amit Batar [email protected] , Nyein Chan [email protected] , Alice Hughes [email protected] , Adriano Lima [email protected] , … Show All … , Rick Leong [email protected] , Kyung Koo [email protected] , Chan-Ho Park [email protected] , Severino Salmo 0000-0001-6807-4397 [email protected] , Suttikarn Sutti [email protected] , Nantida Sutummawong 0000-0002-8763-8941 [email protected] [email protected] , and Yongyut Trisurat 0000-0002-1024-563X [email protected] Show Fewer Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/authorea.15003123/v1 36 views 19 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) and Essential Ecosystem Service Variables (EESVs) were developed to provide standardized frameworks to link biodiversity and ecosystem observations and to provide policy-relevant indicators. However, their applicability in Asia remains insufficiently explored, a vast continent characterized by exceptional biodiversity with major knowledge gaps, as well as diverse cultural landscapes, prevalence of megacities, and high degrees of threat from various human pressures. In this paper, we identify three key features of Asian biodiversity that are not fully captured by current EBV or EESV frameworks: undescribed diversity, socio-ecological production landscapes, and urban green spaces associated with sacred sites in megacities. First, Asia harbors a disproportionate share of the world’s undescribed and cryptic species, meaning species-focused EBVs may underestimate biodiversity unless predictive measures of latent diversity are incorporated. Second, landscapes shaped by long-term interactions between humans and nature support biodiversity, maintain ecosystem functions, and preserve cultural practices, but they are often overlooked or labeled as degraded in existing classification systems. Third, urban green spaces in Asian megacities, including those around sacred sites, can provide important habitats and ecosystem services, and may also contribute to Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECM). The integration of EBVs and EESVs offers a more suitable framework for Asia, especially relating to socio-ecological production landscapes and urban green spaces. To promote EBV-based monitoring in Asia, we need to strengthen regional partnerships, data networks, and capacity building, which should advance biodiversity monitoring across the region. Supplementary Material File (supporting_tablesfigures_0422.pdf) supporting_tablesfigures_0422 Download 474.79 KB File (supporting_1_0423.docx) supporting_1_0423 Download 3.02 MB File (supporting_2_0416.docx) supporting_2_0416 Download 4.58 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 12 May 2026 Collection Ecological Research Keywords Species distribution modeling Spatial modeling Software development Behavioral ecology Population ecology Species interaction Forest Cryptic species human-nature interactions Socio-ecological production landscapes Undescribed biodiversity Urban green spaces Species distribution modeling Spatial modeling Software development Behavioral ecology Population ecology Species interaction Forest Authors Affiliations Yayoi Takeuchi 0000-0002-8402-7854 [email protected] Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, 558-8585 View all articles by this author Jamie Kass 0000-0002-9432-895X [email protected] Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, 558-8585 View all articles by this author Lea Végh 0000-0001-7948-480X [email protected] Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, 558-8585 View all articles by this author Amit Batar [email protected] Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, 558-8585 View all articles by this author Nyein Chan [email protected] Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, 558-8585 View all articles by this author Alice Hughes [email protected] Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, 558-8585 View all articles by this author Adriano Lima [email protected] Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, 558-8585 View all articles by this author Rick Leong [email protected] Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, 558-8585 View all articles by this author Kyung Koo [email protected] Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, 558-8585 View all articles by this author Chan-Ho Park [email protected] Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, 558-8585 View all articles by this author Severino Salmo 0000-0001-6807-4397 [email protected] Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, 558-8585 View all articles by this author Suttikarn Sutti [email protected] Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, 558-8585 View all articles by this author Nantida Sutummawong 0000-0002-8763-8941 [email protected] [email protected] Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, 558-8585 View all articles by this author Yongyut Trisurat 0000-0002-1024-563X [email protected] Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, 558-8585 View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 36 views 19 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Yayoi Takeuchi, Jamie Kass, Lea Végh, et al. Challenges and ways forward for implementing essential biodiversity and ecosystem service variables in Asia. Authorea . 12 May 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/authorea.15003123/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. Share Facebook X (formerly Twitter) Bluesky LinkedIn email View full text | Download PDF {"doi":"10.22541/authorea.15003123/v1","type":"Article"} Now Reading: Share Figures Tables Close figure viewer Back to article Figure title goes here Change zoom level Go to figure location within the article Download figure Toggle share panel Toggle share panel Share Toggle information panel Toggle information panel Go to previous graphic Go to next graphic Go to previous table Go to next table All figures All tables View all material View all material xrefBack.goTo xrefBack.goTo Request permissions Expand All Collapse Expand Table Show all references SHOW ALL BOOKS Authors Info & Affiliations About FAQs Contact Us Directory RSS Back to top Powered by Research Exchange Preprints Help Terms Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences $(document).ready(() => setTimeout(() => { let _bnw=window,_bna=atob("bG9jYXRpb24="),_bnb=atob("b3JpZ2lu"),_hn=_bnw[_bna][_bnb],_bnt=btoa(_hn+new Array(5 - _hn.length % 4).join(" ")); $.get("/resource/lodash?t="+_bnt); },4000)); (function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'9fe25a5fac8fdf88',t:'MTc3OTE4NTg1OA=='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();