We consider biodiversity in its broadest sense, without fixing a single definition. It should be understood as the entirety of the living fabric of the planet. Each expert is invited to respond based on their own understanding of the term. We acknowledge that this concept can vary across disciplines and approaches, and we aim to document this diversity of interpretations.

The estimate should reflect the maximum potential gain that could be achieved over time, assuming the sustainable implementation of the given practice. The time required to reach this gain may vary, but this aspect will be addressed separately. Experts are therefore not expected to incorporate this duration into their evaluation.

Experts are encouraged to respond using their professional judgment, but an explicit justification is not required. Evaluations may rely on a form of expert intuition—rooted in experience and accumulated knowledge—which may sometimes be difficult to formalize.

Anyone with scientific expertise in the relevant fields and a professional email address is welcome to participate. Participants are invited to indicate their area of expertise and level of confidence for each answer. It is also possible to skip any questions that fall outside one’s area of competence. At the end of the contribution phase, Puzzling Biodiversity will analyze the data while taking these contextual elements into account.

Responses must be individual and reflect the personal assessment of the account holder. However, it is entirely possible—and even encouraged—to draw on discussions with other experts or any relevant sources when formulating a response. If the work is done collaboratively, each person should create their own account so that all opinions are counted individually.

This label refers to elements that are highly dependent on local context, for which no general recommendation would be meaningfully applicable across the entire scope of the questionnaire. In such cases, we ask you to consider a local reference level—what an ecologist with specific knowledge of the area would likely recommend.