Threats to Nature's Contributions to People Provided by Terrestrial Vertebrates Across Europe
Abstract
Aim Species and ecosystem processes provide essential benefits to people, known as Nature's Contributions to People (NCP). However, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of NCP provided by terrestrial vertebrates on a macroecological scale, and of the threats they face. To address this, we built a comprehensive dataset that documents the NCP provided by terrestrial vertebrate species in Europe, and analysed the conservation status and threats to NCP provider species. Location Europe. Methods We synthesised existing literature on NCP associated with European terrestrial vertebrates, and leveraged ecological traits and trophic interactions from existing datasets. We identified 15 NCP (10 regulating NCP and 5 non‐material NCP), with 860 species providing at least one NCP (out of 1168 vertebrate species considered in total). Then, we harnessed spatial data on species distributions and European land systems to map the potential capacity of vertebrates to provide NCP across Europe at a 1 km 2 resolution, including societal demand for each NCP. Results We found that (i) for each NCP, at least 25% of NCP provider species are assessed as threatened with extinction; (ii) potential NCP multifunctionality was lowest in high‐intensity land systems; and (iii) direct exploitation and agricultural intensification are major threats to NCP, impacting provider species for both non‐material and regulating NCP. Main Conclusions NCP are supported by diverse vertebrate communities across Europe, but many provider species are threatened by anthropogenic pressures. Our results suggest that protecting threatened NCP provider species, reducing direct exploitation, de‐intensifying agricultural practices, and maintaining heterogeneous mosaic landscapes, may support NCP multifunctionality. By improving our understanding of the NCP provided by terrestrial vertebrates in Europe, their biogeography, and the threats, our work can help prioritise species and areas for conservation and restoration that jointly benefits both biodiversity and NCP.
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BibTeX
@article{oconnor2026threats,
title = {{Threats to Nature's Contributions to People Provided by Terrestrial Vertebrates Across Europe}},
author = {Louise O'Connor and Francesca Cosentino and Servane Demarquet and Pierre Gaüzère and Tom Hackbarth and Luigi Maiorano and Chiara Mancino and Sara Si-Moussi and Peter Verburg and Wilfried Thuiller and Julien Renaud},
journal = {Diversity and Distributions},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1111/ddi.70210},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05764878v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Threats to Nature's Contributions to People Provided by Terrestrial Vertebrates Across Europe
AU - Louise O'Connor
AU - Francesca Cosentino
AU - Servane Demarquet
AU - Pierre Gaüzère
AU - Tom Hackbarth
AU - Luigi Maiorano
AU - Chiara Mancino
AU - Sara Si-Moussi
AU - Peter Verburg
AU - Wilfried Thuiller
AU - Julien Renaud
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/16
JO - Diversity and Distributions
DO - 10.1111/ddi.70210
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05764878v1
AB - Aim Species and ecosystem processes provide essential benefits to people, known as Nature's Contributions to People (NCP). However, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of NCP provided by terrestrial vertebrates on a macroecological scale, and of the threats they face. To address this, we built a comprehensive dataset that documents the NCP provided by terrestrial vertebrate species in Europe, and analysed the conservation status and threats to NCP provider species. Location Europe. Methods We synthesised existing literature on NCP associated with European terrestrial vertebrates, and leveraged ecological traits and trophic interactions from existing datasets. We identified 15 NCP (10 regulating NCP and 5 non‐material NCP), with 860 species providing at least one NCP (out of 1168 vertebrate species considered in total). Then, we harnessed spatial data on species distributions and European land systems to map the potential capacity of vertebrates to provide NCP across Europe at a 1 km 2 resolution, including societal demand for each NCP. Results We found that (i) for each NCP, at least 25% of NCP provider species are assessed as threatened with extinction; (ii) potential NCP multifunctionality was lowest in high‐intensity land systems; and (iii) direct exploitation and agricultural intensification are major threats to NCP, impacting provider species for both non‐material and regulating NCP. Main Conclusions NCP are supported by diverse vertebrate communities across Europe, but many provider species are threatened by anthropogenic pressures. Our results suggest that protecting threatened NCP provider species, reducing direct exploitation, de‐intensifying agricultural practices, and maintaining heterogeneous mosaic landscapes, may support NCP multifunctionality. By improving our understanding of the NCP provided by terrestrial vertebrates in Europe, their biogeography, and the threats, our work can help prioritise species and areas for conservation and restoration that jointly benefits both biodiversity and NCP.
SN - 1366-9516
SN - 1472-4642
ER -