Soil organisms support nutrient and water cycling, pollutant degradation, climate regulation, and food production through numerous soil processes. However, human environmental impacts threaten soil biodiversity, putting these vital soil functions and ecosystem services at risk. The conservation of soil biodiversity requires a solid understanding of the distribution and ecology of soil organisms. Although the Balkans are considered a hotspot of European biodiversity, knowledge about soil biodiversity in this region remains scarce. The aim of this master's thesis is to identify barriers to the integration of soil organisms into nature conservation measures in the Balkans. We analysed the availability and accessibility of soil biodiversity data in the Balkan countries, focusing on Edaphobase, a pan-European data warehouse dealing with the distribution and ecological preferences of soil organisms. Scientific literature was reviewed to assess research activity and collaboration patterns among Balkan researchers. In addition, national capacities for soil biodiversity research were evaluated through an expert survey. The results show significant differences between the Balkan countries across all research areas. The potential of Edaphobase for advanced ecological analyses is largely underutilized due to poor geographic coverage and insufficient environmental metadata. Furthermore, limited regional collaboration and inadequate technical and financial resources hold back progress in soil biodiversity research. These findings emphasize the need for mechanisms that promote international collaboration and secure funding to reduce economic disparities and foster a cohesive scientific community in the region. This study provides novel insights into the current state of soil biodiversity research in the Balkans and serves as an important reference for advocating a regional approach to bolster soil biodiversity research.
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