Habitat quality assessment and modelling for biodiversity sustainability at the forest landscape level

Habitat quality assessment and habitat suitability maps constitutes an useful approach to design management plans to expand Protected Areas or create new ones in order to protect certain species or habitats of particular importance in managed forest to improve regional planning. In this sense, we present a method and tools that can be used in assessing biodiversity value for both managed and protected forest areas to help decision-making concerning valuable habitats protection and consequently manage natural resources. Several conceptual approaches have been developed in order to evaluate different habitat quality models that are used as a surrogate for biodiversity value. The indicators and the models developed reflect a sound scientific basis that can be implemented in other European countries that invest in national forest inventories. This effort constitutes the first attempt done at the landscape level, focusing on end users' needs, to use a National Forest Inventory database for biodiversity monitoring and management.