SDMapCH (v1.3): a Comprehensive database of modelled species habitat suitability maps for Switzerland

Conserving natural ecosystems requires consistent and standardized
biodiversity data to advance scientific research and improve ecological
understanding. While species occurrence records are commonly used in
biodiversity assessments, they provide only a snapshot of distributions at
sampled sites and fail to capture potential habitat suitability or future
shifts, both of which species distribution models can effectively
generalize and predict. Despite several national initiatives to develop
databases of modelled species habitat suitability maps, even well-studied
countries often lack comprehensive, standardized datasets that cover a
wide range of taxonomic groups modelled using a consistent framework.
Using Switzerland as a case study, we demonstrate how these gaps can be
addressed and introduce SDMapCH (v1.3), a nationwide raster database of
modelled species habitat suitability maps at a 25-meter resolution.
SDMapCH provides individual maps for about 7,500 species, as well as
aggregated maps for 11 major taxonomic groups, 26 ecological guilds, and 5
conservation status categories, under both present conditions and future
climate change scenarios projected through the end of the century. SDMapCH
was developed using the N-SDM modelling pipeline, an end-to-end platform
built on a spatially nested hierarchical framework and optimized for
high-performance computing environments. N-SDM enables multi-level and
multi-resolution integration of species and covariate data, addressing
niche truncation issues and supporting parallel high-resolution modelling
of numerous species within tight timeframes. SDMapCH maps were evaluated
using a state-of-the-art cross-validation procedure, and all layers were
systematically validated through a data integrity check. By providing
standardized, high-resolution habitat suitability maps for diverse species
across various taxonomic and functional groups, SDMapCH stands as a key
resource for advancing scientific research and enhancing biodiversity
assessments in Switzerland and beyond.