Spatial prioritisation sits the at the heart of conservation planning as it determines how effectively space is utilised and allocated resources. The post-2020 CBD targets spurred not only the consolidation of global biodiversity datasets (e.g GBIF) but also the creation of tools for modelling, mapping and visualising biological processes. Interactive maps have become a go-to medium for conveying scientific information and bridging the knowledge-practise barrier. Digital maps, with their intuitive dashboards are increasingly used for quantifying nature-related risks (e.g ABC-map, TNFD), and predicting the impact of future developments (COLA, Jants et al. 2024).
The broad suite of tools that are available signals an encouraging trend of demand among practitioners in both the public and private sector. It is imperative ,however, that these digital maps are underpinned by tested biodiversity models, with bounds of use that are understood and communicated clearly. Modelling biodiversity is a active and rapidly developing field of science, and will be elevated by including practitioners in the design process of these visualisation platforms to ensure model outputs meet the specific needs of practitioners and regulators.
Therefore, at the World Biodiversity Forum 2026, we are proposing a session called ‘Mapping Life’ with the explicit objective of convening both developers and users of biodiversity maps. The session will, by design, reach across disciplinary divides and offer an opportunity for practitioners and scientists to develop a shared understanding and vocabulary around the subject.

For examples of biodiversity mapping tools, see:
https://www.ibat-alliance.org
https://abc-map.fao.org