Quantification of land use impacts on biodiversity with local ecosystem indicators: A case study in southwestern Germany

for about two decades. Here we present a method based on the potential field methodology by Lindner (2016), developed further for application specifically in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. For any given plot, conditions parameters a-re used as input for a calculation framework that yields a scalar result as the biodiversity potential of the plot. This result is considered a relevant proxy for biodiversity. The input parameters are defined to embrace, among other policies, the eco-accounting scheme of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. Furthermore, experts from government agencies, NGOs and academia have been interviewed and their views have been integrated. The method functions mainly as an accounting tool. Limited use as a guiding tool for land management is also possible. The method is demonstrated in a case study. The study covers four different agriculture and forestry management regimes for the production of renewable raw materials in Baden-Wuerttemberg. Each of the management regimes is assessed with the proposed method.