A methodological study of biotope mapping in nature conservation

This paper reviews biotope mapping methods in nature conservation and shows that the perspectives of biotope mapping have changed from protection of valuable biotopes for rare and endangered species to a modern nature conservation strategy, i.e. maintaining and increasing biodiversity as a component of human daily life. Two key issues of biotope mapping are highlighted: how to increase the chances of people having contact with urban biodiversity based on biotope mapping, and how to develop an effective method of biotope mapping in order to obtain much more urban biodiversity information. It is found that comprehensive surveys of all land parcels are important in urban biotope mapping, and especially investigation of small-scale biotopes close to people's living places that still have potential biodiversity value. Many studies show that there is a close relation between vegetation structure and biodiversity. A modified biotope classification method integrated with structural variables is proposed for biotope mapping as a basis for urban biodiversity development. (C) 2010 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.