What is the Land Use & Why is so important for Biodiversity Assessment?
Land use refers to how land is managed (e.g. farming, cities, forests). It's crucial for biodiversity: intensive changes reduce natural habitats and lower the MSA (Mean Species Abundance), threatening species and ecosystems. A key metric for sustainability.
Here's what land use is and why it matters
Today we talk about MSA Land Use KPI. MSA stands for Mean Species Abundance, and this indicator shows how human activities affected natural ecosystems by assessing the abundance of species, comparing it to the natural state. The source for this kpi is Globio Model, developed by the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and you can find this metric in the "State of Biodiversity" section on the XNatura platform. This indicator is key across sectors like agriculture, renewable energies, urban planning and infrastructure. For example, if an infrastructure project causes excessive habitat fragmentation, it can significantly decrease the MSA, which may impact project approval from local authorities. Follow us to discover more metrics and how they can help your business environmental strategy.
How is the MSA built?
Mean Species Abundance (MSA) is a key indicator for assessing the state of biodiversity in an ecosystem, and is influenced by four main impact drivers: MSA Land Use, MSA Climate Change, MSA Infrastructure, and MSA LBA (Land-use Based Abatement). Each of these factors contributes to determining how far the average abundance of species in a habitat deviates from natural reference conditions. Analyzing them separately allows for a better understanding of the causes of ecological degradation and the planning of targeted interventions.
The platform allows not only to distinguish these individual drivers, but also to visualize them spatially through a GIS map. This tool allows for the precise identification of hotspots and priority areas for intervention, facilitating more effective and site-specific regeneration strategies. In this way, businesses and governments can make informed and evidence-based decisions to protect and enhance biodiversity.
Is the MSA a physical model or an AI model?
XNatura enables the assessment of Mean Species Abundance (MSA) through two complementary approaches. The first is a physical model, based on Globio, that uses land use data to estimate the impact of human activities on biodiversity. This scientifically validated model provides a reliable analysis of the ecological status of an area based on changes in land cover.
In parallel, XNatura has developed a proprietary algorithm that estimates MSA directly from satellite imagery, without requiring prior knowledge of land use. This approach makes it globally scalable, even in areas where spatial data are sparse or absent, allowing rapid, continuous, high-resolution assessment of biodiversity.
How can I use the MSA to set regeneration targets?
XNatura allows you to set strategic biodiversity targets by projecting average species abundance (MSA) into future scenarios aligned with international frameworks and EU directives. You can choose from four ready-made targets and monitor progress directly on the platform:
Companies that have chosen XNatura
We are monitoring the impact of our assets on biodiversity, improving it through regeneration efforts such as the creation of our Oases, and increasing our impact by raising awareness among local students.
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With XNatura we are able to assess the impact of our clients, such as mines, on local ecosystems, understanding the levels of biodiversity degradation.
We are proud and happy to lead this important project as Parco delle Groane e della Brughiera Briantea, which once again sees us collaborating with leading Italian universities and organizations that have long been active in our region. Biodiversity is essential for our planet, and its loss is one of the most urgent emergencies we must address today.
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Together with XNatura we are protecting and monitoring biodiversity through the Oases of the Cassa Centrale - Credito Cooperativo Italiano Group, where our goal is to promote projects that protect the natural environment and biodiversity.
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Through our collaboration with XNatura, we have deployed technological solutions to foster respect for nature and the ecosystem, creating sustainable value for future generations.
The issue of biodiversity has always been central to the strategies of Mutti, whose business revolves entirely around a product of the earth, a symbol of Made in Italy in the world: the tomato. Precisely for this reason, within our Green Strategy, we have initiated a program of ecosystem restoration and rehabilitation, which starts from the very land where we have our production facilities. The collaboration with XNatura is therefore essential for us, in order to give scientific validation to our projects and help us in building a long-term strategy that will help us grow and bring increasing value to the environment.
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We are proud to work alongside XNatura's 3Bee project to monitor and regenerate biodiversity in Europe. We started by monitoring honeybees and are expanding the project to regeneration. Through communication on Foxy Love the Bee products and to consumers, we can help spread this awareness and do our part for a more sustainable planet.
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With XNatura, we are monitoring about 1.000 hectares of our supply chain aiming to understand the level of biodiversity and its relationship with our farms.
We decided to give priority to the natural capital of the Group by monitoring 16k ha. We are developing a long-term strategy to enhance the ecosystem services of our assets in collaboration with Generali Country Sustainability & Social Responsibility.
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Respect is one of the core values of Cherry Bank's governance. This world is what we all have in common. Creativity, sensitivity, and innovation are needed to find a balance between new needs and respect for Nature's resources. It’s not the trees that will save the planet, but humankind.
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We are deeply committed to protecting biodiversity and integrating sustainability into our projects. Our initiatives support wildlife, agriculture, and regenerative efforts, to create long-term impacts for a more sustainable future.
Read moreDiscover XNatura
XNatura focuses on the digitalization of nature, integrating artificial intelligence, IoT sensors, satellite technologies, and cloud computing. The goal is to collect, process, and analyze environmental data to support companies, public entities, and natural parks in monitoring and managing risks and impacts on nature, biodiversity, and climate change.
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